No matter the circumstance He can use you

Acts 28:30-31 (ESV)

30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

Myrtie Howell was a devoted Christian woman who lived a hard life. Her family was very poor. When she was 10, she quit school and went to work in a steel mill for 10 cents a day. She married at age 17. But in early 1940, her husband was killed in an accident. And when that happened, she lost her home. And she had to go back to work to support herself and her three kids. Years later, her declining health forced her to move into an old, high rise nursing home. A few weeks later, her youngest son died. Then she fell into a depression.

She said, "Lord, what more can I do for you? I've lost everything that ever meant something to me. And now I'm stuck in this dark, dreary room. I have nothing left to live for! I want to die! I've had enough of this prison. Take me home." But then God spoke to her as clear as possible. He said, "I'm not through with you yet, Myrtie. Write to prisoners."

So she wrote a letter and sent it to the Atlanta Penitentiary. And this is what the letter said: "Dear inmate. I am a grandmother who loves and cares for you. I am willing to be a friend. If you'd like to hear from me, write me. I will answer every letter you write. A Christian friend, Grandmother Howell."

The letter was given to the prison chaplain. And he gave her the names of eight prisoners she could write to. Prison Fellowship gave her some more names. Soon, she was corresponding with up to 40 inmates a day. She became a one woman ministry reaching into prisons all over America.

She said, "I thought my life was over. But these past few years have been the most fulfilling years of my life! I thank Prison Fellowship! And most of all, I thank Jesus!" Myrtie Howell became a great missionary for God. Out of a one room apartment.

No matter what circumstances you find yourself, the Lord can use you for His glory.

Dear Lord, thank the You that as long as we are on this earth, You can use us for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God's light in the darkness

Matthew 6:23 (ESV)

But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

We often think that the biggest storms always occur on oceans, not realizing that the storms on the Great Lakes around Michigan are just as dangerous, if not more so, than the oceanic storms. In 1838, Francis Count de Castlenau, a French naturalist, described a gale near South Manitou Island. "We were a plaything of the giant waves . . . I have seen the squalls off the banks of Newfoundland . . . And the hurricanes of the Gulf of Mexico. Nowhere have I witnessed the fury of the elements comparable to that found on this fresh water sea."

Many boats lost in darkness either sank or were stranded with all men aboard. Without lighthouses they were doomed. When lighthouses were built on the Great lakes, hope was renewed. Some, however, continued to sink, as they couldn't see the light shining forth. The elements kept them from seeing clearly. Without light, we are truly doomed.

How many among us live in total darkness? We may think we have some light inside us, but if we remain wanting, there is something amiss. It's a sure indication that we have no idea what light truly means. We may hunger for light, but as long as we also long for darkness, light will never be able to come through: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other." Matt 6:24a

Hungering for light is not enough. We also have to be willing to leave behind whatever it is that keeps us from reaching that light. Sadly, many remain in the bondage of darkness, not realizing that true freedom can only be found in the Light.

We have to come to our senses. Do we truly enjoy reveling in our vices? We know deep down that sooner or later they will swallow us whole, a real shipwreck, leading us to certain death. Only then, it will be too late. Darkness will remain for eternity.

Why not come to our senses and decide what is really worthwhile for us? When we chose light, we discover grace beyond imagination. Only then will we begin to have a purpose that will fill our hearts with abundance. All emptiness will evaporate. We have finally found the light-saving Light.

We can remain in the dark as these ships facing the gales; but is it really worthwhile to remain in the calamities of our own lives, when we can be in the safety of the Light?

Dear Lord, help us to seek after the light and not stay in the dark ways. Give us the strength so that we may live life in the fullest. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

We are God' s glove

Psalm 16:8 (ESV)

I have set the Lord always before me;

    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Psalm 16:8 says, " I have set the Lord always before me." What does this mean? To set the Lord always before you means to allow Him to be the driving force in your life. Let’s look at a  baseball mitt. There are several different types of mitts available. Serious baseball players would probably choose their gloves according to the position they were going to play. An outfielder or pitcher's glove would be needed to snag those long fly balls. A first basemen's glove would need to be able to scoop the ball out of the dirt when it comes to first base. A catcher's mitt must be equipped with a little extra padding in order to take the heat.

As is the case with each individual glove, you and I have also been designed for a unique purpose. It is important to understand that a baseball glove is nothing more than a useless piece of leather without a hand to guide it. A person's hand enables that glove to work for a particular purpose-its intended purpose. In much the same way, we are nothing more than a physical body unless the Lord is working in and through us. As our Creator, He is the only one who understands how we work, and therefore He is the only one who is able to direct us toward the fulfillment of our intended purpose.

Perhaps this has happened to you. You are playing catch-warming up before the game. You take off your glove to adjust your cap or uniform and someone throws the ball at you, unaware that you do not have your glove on. There is no time to prepare. So what do you do? You take the glove and throw it at the ball-hoping to knock it down so you won't have to chase it. Some of us are trying to navigate through life in much the same way. If God's hand is not in our glove (life), we will spend the rest of our lives chasing obstacles.

Dear Lord, we pray today that Your hand is in our glove. We want You to use us in a mighty way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Jim, Joe or John?

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (ESV)

11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

The car sped down Hwy 407, Jane at the wheel. Jim, Joe and John, her passengers, were quietly gazing out their windows when Jane suddenly slowed down and began guiding the car to the shoulder of the road.

"Jane, why are we pulling over?" Jim asked.

"I think we have a flat," was the response. And sure enough, by the time the car stopped, the right front tire looked like a pancake.

"We must have picked up a nail in that last patch of road construction. I'll need to go and get some help." With this, Jane matter-of-factly stuck out her thumb, and seconds later, a passing car stopped to pick her up. "I'll go and buy a new tire," she called to her traveling companions. "I'll be back as soon as I can!"

As the car sped away with their driver, the three guys were left standing along the side of the road. Now what?

"Why didn't Jane just called roadside assistance and we would have been out of here in one, two, three. Now who knows how long we will be here."

"Awww, Com'on!" Coaxed John. "Let's just enjoy God's sunshine. It isn't all that bad to be stuck here!"

"I think I'll get back in the car," Jim decided. "I brought my portable DVD player, just in case something like this happened!"

"There he goes again!" Complained Jim. "I hate that guy! He's such a lazy bum."

"Oh, he has his positive traits," responded John.

"Oh yeah? Which ones?"

"Like..."

"Just look at this heavy traffic!" Jim interrupted. "We'll be stuck here all day!"

"Traffic?" John shifted his gaze to the road. "Wow! It IS busy out there! I hadn't even noticed. I was too busy admiring the beautiful trees. You know, maybe it's best to be stuck here on the side of the road until some of this passes!"

"Oh, go on!" Jim complained. "You're no better than my work place. My boss never thinks about us, his employees. He only thinks about filling his own pockets. He's selfish and-and our unions aren't any better! Real jerks, all of them!"

"Life isn't that bad Jim. No matter what bad stuff happens, God has given us good things as well!"

"Oh yeah? Wait until you hear about what my landlord did to me. You won't believe it..."

The next three hours passed very slowly as Jim continued to complain and Joe watched his DVDs. It didn't matter to John, however. He always enjoyed himself, no matter who he was with or what circumstances he found himself in.

When Jane finally appeared with a brand-new tire, John and Jim immediately set to work replacing it. Despite the fact that Joe was too busy watching his DVDs to help, it didn't take long to remove the old "pancake" tire and replace it with the new one; and by the time they were ready to roll again, the traffic had thinned down. They would reach their final destination after all!

Our journey on this planet is quite similar to Jim, Joe, John and Jane's car trip. Unforeseen events continually hamper our daily progress, and it will be our attitude that determines if our ride will be enjoyable or not. Complainers, like Jim, will always be bitter. They may help out, but their negativity alienates them from others, which in turn makes them even more bitter. Life is a bore to them, and their attitude sours the experience for all of the others around them.

Those like Joe may seem to be enjoying life, but because it has no purpose beyond having fun and thinking about themselves, they are not fruitful in their endeavors and people tend to not rely on them.

John's attitude is relatively rare. He enjoys life, no matter what circumstances he finds himself in. Why? Because he knows that God is with him. Why complain when you have a friend like Jesus living inside of you? John is a blessing to all those who meet him. He is reliable, enjoyable and fun to be with. He knows his purpose in life and looks forward in anticipation of what might be around the next bend.

Which one of these guys are you? Are you living like Jim, bitter about everything? Or are you like Joe, with your only purpose being self-gratification and fulfillment? If you are like John, it means that Jesus reigns in your heart! When you let Him be in control of your life, you will be able to find your true purpose. Any events, good or bad, are welcome, because you can rely on Jesus to deal with them.

Dear Lord, as we go through life we pray our attitudes and actions would bring honor to You. Help our lives show that You reign in us. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Still has a purpose even though damaged.

Psalm 147:3 (ESV)

He heals the brokenhearted

    and binds up their wounds.

"What do you do with all the junk?" He asked as he walked down the hill.

"What you see as junk, I see as possible treasure," his friend replied.

"You call all that treasure?" He asked.

"Only when I see it as something else, something new."

I've been working in my back yard the last few weeks.

It's part of a "keep myself busy" plan. Since the economy is flat and speaking engagements few, I try to keep myself busy doing things that need doing around the house.

He continued, I am self-employed. Well, unemployed. No, self reliant, independent, and sometimes bored.

So, the yard and the shed need attention. Next week is clean up week in my community, so we get to haul all the things we no longer need to the dumpsters outside the township building.

There was, indeed, a hidden treasure in this pile of throw aways. It was during my digging phase that I found it.

My wife decided she wanted to expand a section of the rock garden in the corner of the yard.

While cleaning up I found this tiny bottle. It's about two inches high and a half inch thick. It looks like it had a cork in the top, but I am thinking perhaps a glass stopper. Like one in a perfume bottle.

Of course, my mind begins to play with all kinds of possibilities. I wondered who it belonged to, where it came from, was it a gift from a young man to his sweetheart?

I showed it to my neighbor and challenged him with the idea.

"It's junk! Look, there's a piece broken on the top. I'd toss it out," he concluded.

Not me. It's still useful. I know every time I see it my mind will dance. I like seeing it as a gift. Not only the imagined one from a guy to his girl, but the gift I was given just because I found it.

It can still hold something. I'll find a small cork and add a little colored water to it.

When I hold it I will imagine the hand that tossed it aside.

Junk? Just because it's slightly damaged doesn't mean it has lost its purpose.

Like each of us. We’ve been damaged, broken, chipped and after all that we still have a purpose. God picked us up out of the trash pile, dusted us off and found something new we could do many times.

So, next time you pass by a lost soul, beaten down and damaged, tossed aside and seen as junk by others, remember, that is God's vessel.

In the right hands, even a broken bottle is a treasure.

Dear Lord, thank You that each of us is a treasure. Help us not look down on those we come into contact with each day. Help us to see their value. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Lessons from an ant

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Ants scurry along their pathways, busy working, collecting, and storing. They're so tiny as to be insignificant to us, and yet beyond the frantic busyness that we human beings see, we tend to overlook that their one main purpose in life is to honor their queen, by providing for and defending her!

Oh, that we would be so focused and determined during every waking moment of our days, that our main purpose would be to honor our Sovereign too; but in our case, it would be by serving and defending our Lord and Master, our eternal, everlasting King -- Jesus!

Dear Lord, we pray that You will guide us during our waking hours, that we may honor You in all that we do! We pray that we will serve You and defend Your honor always. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

God has a plan

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs, yet he travels around the world, enjoys fishing, plays golf, and even surfs. “I love living life,” he says. “And I’m happy.”

But he hasn’t always felt that way. When he was around eight years old, the teasing he endured from classmates caused him to feel broken, bitter, hopeless…so much so that he wanted to end his life, since he felt there was no point in living any longer.

But by age 13, his attitude had changed. His mother had made sure he met other disabled people, some with greater handicaps than his, which helped him realize he wasn’t the only one coping with challenges.

At first, Nick didn’t understand Jeremiah 29:11, which says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” But he began to realize he didn’t have to understand it for it to be true. “Just because you don’t see the plans God has for you,” Nick says, “doesn’t mean He doesn’t have any.” So, he gave up his anger and bitterness and began giving thanks for the blessings he did have.

Nick, now an adult, testifies to audiences around the world: “God has given me grace, strength, and comfort through my disability. You can have peace and joy in your life, even in circumstances that don’t make sense or turn your world upside down.”

His testimony has helped an estimated 140,000 people come to faith in Christ. Although some evangelists tell folks that believing in God will cause all their problems to disappear, Nick says, “God is more interested in changing your heart than your circumstances.”

Although Nick continues to ask God to give him arms and legs, he’s content, even happy, without them. “God has given me such a big, big ministry. It’s such a beautiful thing to witness people’s hearts being changed and transformed because of the testimony I bring of God’s glory, grace, and perfection.”

He has learned the same lesson the Apostle Paul learned centuries ago. Paul had something wrong, too, although Paul never said specifically what it was. He only referred to his problem as a “thorn in the flesh,” which implies discomfort of some sort.

Like Nick, Paul prayed for God to remove his problem, but God chose not to. Three times Paul begged the Lord to take the “thorn” away. But each time, God said to Paul, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Like Nick, Paul trusted God to work in his life, despite his problems. And God gave each of them a far-reaching ministry, one that permits others to see the power of God working inside a human body that can boast of little strength of its own.

Their lives, like those of many others, verify the truth of Jeremiah 29:11. God DOES have a purpose for you and me. He DOES have a plan to bring about good through our lives. It matters not whether we are crippled or able-bodied, poverty-stricken or rich, uneducated or a Rhodes scholar…God can use us according to the plans He’s had for us since before He formed us in the womb.

Dear Lord, we thank You that You have a purpose for each of us no matter the circumstances we find our self in. Give us the trust to put completely in You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.