IT'S NOT ORDINARY

 

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND?

GOD WILL TAKE WHAT APPEARS USELESS TO US AND USE IT FOR HIS KINGDOM PURPOSE 

I recently heard a short Instagram reel, that a lady asked that question and related it to scripture. It really spoke to me, so I began to look at different scriptures and reflect on this topic 

In Exodus 4:1-2 Moses was talking with God in the burning bush. God had just given him instructions to go get His people. Moses said "But what if they don't believe You sent me?" God asked "What do you have in your hand?" It was a shepherd staff, God told him to throw it down and when he did it turned into a snake, when he picked it up it returned to a staff. Through something ordinary God would use that staff in his hand to perform miracles.

Again in 2 Kings 4:1-2 the widow woman asked Elisha for help. Since her husband a prophet had died and the bill collectors were coming to take her sons. Elisha asked "What do you have in your house?" Just a jar of oil she answered, he told her to gather all the jars from the neighbors and they filled all the jars and the oil kept flowing until all the jars were full. She sold that oil and paid off her debt and the original jar with oil never ran out. God provided from just an ordinary jar of oil.

Again 1 Samuel 17:40 David meets Goliath, what did David face and bring down the giant with? A simple slingshot and 1 out of 5 smooth stones. Just an ordinary slingshot practiced with over and over, now became a weapon God used to bring down an enemy of Israel.

Again John 4:7-15 Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. What did she have in her hand? She came to draw water from the well so she was carrying her water pot to put her water in. Jesus asked her for a drink, and then salvation came to her and many more in the town. Jesus used her coming to get water to speak of the living water she would receive from Him.

Again in Matthew 15:33, over 4,000 had been listening to Jesus, having compassion on the people, He asked His disciples to feed them, they said how can we feed so many. Jesus said "What do you have?". They answered "7 loafs of bread and a few fish". Didn't seem like much but when placed in Jesus' hand it was much more than enough!

So again I ask what is in your hand? What is in your house? When we look at what we have we see insignificant, unimportant, what can I do? But God sees potential for great things if we will entrust Him with the ordinary in our hand. Every born again believer has been given talents and spiritual gifts to use for His kingdom purpose. And we all have something in our hand or home we are to surrender to Jesus that He might use it to bring Him glory. 

Let me share myself as an example please: After I was saved I had believed God had given me the gift of teaching, and He gave me many opportunities to use His gift. Yet, as I grew older, I found I wasn't using that gift as I once was, and truly believed I no longer had a purpose for His use. Many, many years ago, I began a web site as He asked and I would have Bible studies available through it, it was well received from around the world, but it cost me and the price increased so I discontinued and began this blog. Also I would use other means of social media, and though I knew God was using me I just couldn't visualize it as fulfilling His purpose. Twice since 2019 He has told me my purpose, I wrote it down, hung it up so I would remind myself. My purpose "Pray for my church, my family and others and share the truth of God's word with confidence." Confidence I realized today 11/30/22 is what I lacked, I was unsure that was what He wanted me to do. This morning as I was reflecting on all the scriptures and posting about Jesus on Facebook, I looked at my hand and I realized, I was holding my phone in my hand. Technology of today is available to be used to share the good news, to encourage others, to inspire others and lead the lost to Christ. What did I hold in my hand, that I had given to Jesus, just an ordinary phone to many would mean nothing, but when used for God's glory would be used by Jesus to fulfill that purpose "share the truth of God's word with confidence". Suddenly I had confidence because I knew God was using what was in my hand for His purpose.

What is in my home, in March 2021, God gave me an assignment to bake and give away cakes in my church family, to be willing and available for the children and the widows. Suddenly I realized the assignment shifted a third time just in the last couple of days, to be willing and available for my church family anytime (I have always been willing and available for my own family). At times church and friends have ordered and paid a small amount for a cake or pie, personally I am not trying to make money, but to get back what the cost of making it was. Many within my church have sowed into my life to help me to be able to continue to do what God has asked me to do. Did you hear what I said? I in my home had what I needed to bake cakes and pies, I have had experience from my working years, and I had a talent I had given to Jesus. And He has made sure I have not suffered any lose in baking anything and has even added more to me through the gifts of others. When God gives you an assignment, He will provide all you need to accomplish what He asked you to do and will use what you already have to accomplish it. Why did He give me this assignment? December 26,2020 my daughter, Angela, died of COVID, in March I asked God "how can I bless others?" And so He spoke what I was to do and in this He taught me how to love others without any expectation. Well I am still learning the expectation part, but I am learning and Jesus is patient and He is teaching.

So what ordinary thing do you have in your hand, in your home that God will use to make a difference in your life and in others lives? Look around it's there, it has just been seen as insignificant. 🔥🔥

TIME KEEPS MOVING

 

LIFE IS JUST A BRIEF MOMENT IN TIME!

ENJOY THE ADVENTURE!

When we were young it appeared as if time would never pass by. You know all the times waiting to grow up, waiting to be independent, waiting to find just that right person. And we would often think why does it take so long?

Then in this we find ourselves grown up, we found the right person (or so we think); I say that because sometimes we are in such a hurry to move on in life and be that independent person, we often make choices in haste and we settle for the wrong person and not waiting on the one God has for us. But there again is us hurrying time.

Then here we are young, married, broke, and waiting on time to catch up with us. Wanting a better job, more money, better car, better home and better furniture. We have grown weary of hand me downs and second hand things. Time barely moves, especially when we decide we want to have children, it's like the clock stopped and just sits there. Will there ever be a time when all the things I want will come into my life?

Then before we realize it here comes the children, the new home, new car, still using hand me downs, but now we call them antiques and thrift store bargains. And time moves on and before we even realize it the children are grown, and married having their own families, homes and watching time pass slowly by.

And then before you know it, you are a grandparent. Oh the love a grandparent for their grandchildren, words can never express the pleasure of every opportunity you get to spend time with them. Why it's like you suddenly turned back time and your children were young again, except now you have become more mellow, and allow them more room to be children, you know, you have really learned to show them grace and mercy because after all you get to send them back home to their parents. So you make sure of these important things:

1. They get to eat all their favorite things, you make sure you buy at the store their favorite junk food.

2. You desire to have many adventures together; for me I would take mine to Dollywood, the zoo, the pool, the lake, the picnics at the park and in the mountains.

3. Oh and sleep overs were the best, watching their movies and playing games.

Can all my friends who are grandparents identify with these times? 

You know when we do even the smallest of these things like buying their favorite foods, it is an expression of our love for them. I thought of my mother today and remembered when her grandchildren were coming she always made a point of having all they liked on hand to eat. She loved them.

When they are young we never consider slowness of time because in reality we don't want to see them grown up and not enjoy these grandparents adventures. Yet, suddenly time speeds up and before we know it they are grown, working, lives of their own, moved away, married with their own children. Now we have become great grandparents and some how even that has changed, we love them, but age has slowed our bodies down and adventures no longer come. 

Where did time go? What kind of legacy will we leave behind? Did we tell them "I love you each day?" 

Suddenly we are young no more and time no longer moves slowly, it's like the clock is racing ahead, and each day we realize that day, that moment will never come again. Did we make the most of the time God has given us? Or did we waste it chasing after the worthless things?

Apart from our salvation and our relationship with Jesus Christ, our families are our best gift from the Creator of Life. Let us never forget to love them even when we discipline them, enjoy them, laugh with them, have fun with them. Because time will pass and we will never have those opportunities again. None of us are perfect parents and I had many personal learning experiences that at times my children were blessed by them and at other times they were hurt by them. Now my grandchildren that's a different story, I am a good Mamaw 😂.

No real reason for this blog, just wanted to say, Time passes quicker than we think; at twenty I never saw myself at forty, and at forty I sure never saw myself at seventy five. But in a twinkling of an eye here we all are at a time and age we never imagined ourselves being. So savor every moment of time you have been given because in just a blink of an eye it will be gone.

Be blessed, may God's favor go before you.