When I Can't

A whine.  "I can't!"  The mantra of Jr. High girls at camp.  Then, by God's grace, one of them posted this note on the door:  Ask God for help first.

This mean counselor doesn't give free time until verses are recited.  "I can't!" 
"What does the sign say?"
"Ask God for help first."

Girls were angry and resentful, using tacky glue on another's bedding.  "I don't want to deal with this, God."  Then I looked at the note on the door.  "Ask God for help first."

A salvation invitation was given and two girls repented, accepting God's forgiveness through Christ.  A third was confused and lost.  "I can't!"
"What does the sign say?"
"Ask God for help first."

On the lake, a camper was thrown off the innertube, into the lake.  She struggled to get on. "I can't!"
"What does the sign say?"
"Ask God for help first."

The final day this counselor couldn't go on.  She fell apart and needed a break.  "I can't." 
"What does the sign say?"she asked herself.
"Ask God for help first."

And our memory passage for the week was spot-on:

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."  (Ephesians 4:14-21)

In the end,  the verses were recited, 4 salvation decision were made, conflicts were resolved, no one drowned in the lake or got left behind, and this counselor had to ask for help, which the Lord graciously provided. Our God is amazing.  What a privilege to serve and be used!

Living Worship

There is beauty in serving together, a glory that reflects and magnifies God.  I noticed it yesterday afternoon when our daughter, Rachael, asked for help sewing Vacation Bible School bugs and the girls and I pitched in.  We sat on the floor and at the sewing machine working fabric, googly eyes, scissors, thread and pipe cleaners, the four ladies of our home.  As I ran loose stitches in repetition for the pill bug, I wondered if perhaps we were experiencing a unique kind of worship.  It was for God's purpose, by His enabling, and with the resources He'd provided.  And, by His grace, it was free of bickering, pride and strife.

This morning as I sat down to read Revelation, I saw the same thing:  And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “ Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” (4:8)

The four creatures serve and worship together.  There is not an aloneness, but a togetherness, a unity of purpose, mind, and spirit from God, the Author of life and unity.  Think of it, left to ourselves we do it alone.  We want it  our way.  We want the sense of accomplishment, of prestige and power that come with solitary success.  But that is not God.  God is three-in-one.  God is present in His Body, the Church.  God is a person of fellowship, submission and cooperation.  And God is most glorified when we set aside our singularity in deference to His supremacy (Philippians 2, Romans 12, Ephesians 1-count the plural pronouns!).

I was also struck with the thought that, even if my being were full of eyes, I could never take in enough of God.  Everything about Him is deserving of worship and praise, day and night, without ceasing.  The verse, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," took on a whole new meaning. Our view and perspective are so clouded by sin and distractions that praise is far from our natural state.  We cannot see His glory, let alone live in it.  Perhaps, the farther we are from God and His glory, the less we live and speak with worship and praise.  The clearer our vision, the closer we are to Him, the more we see and acknowledge His awesome power, might, wisdom and love. 

May today be lived with praise and worship:  in my conversation, meal preparation, laundry ministrations, time with husband and children.  It can be.  It should be.  As God is present.

God in My Weakness

It's a petty thing.  I hesitate to write about it, but it's a big thing for me and I wanted to share it.

Do you ever wonder how the things you can't do could benefit someone else?  Or what you'll do with what you know?  Last week while counseling 4-6th grade girls at camp we were challenged to think along those lines.  Our week began with archery, ran into bumper boats, swimming and all the fun things that happen at camp (including lattes and frappes)!  But woven throughout was faithful teaching from God's Word.

Then, days later, I was struck between the eyes with the Bible teaching we received from Kristi Walker, who came to us from Berlin.  The point she brought up over and over is that God made each of us to show Him off, to bring Him honor and glory.  When she told the story of her colossal week as a camper, tears of laughter ran down my face.  It was epic!  Her point was that God has used her in spite of, even in areas of, personal weakness.  As she ended with Bible teaching of David and Samson, she challenged us to think of little ways we can be faithful (David caring for the sheep) and areas of struggle (Samson giving in to temptation and pride) that God might ultimately use for His glory.

That's what made me laugh with God today.  We got home from a morning in town and I realized God set me up in one of my great areas of weakness: cleaning house. 

When we got married I was a college student.  Young and inexperienced, I lived like a college student, comfortable with clutter (I still am!).  As children joined our lives, I thought it prudent to leave out Legos as burglar-prevention devices.  Toy trucks and farm machinery, too.  My husband, on the other hand, is half Dutch.  His mother still sweeps the dirt.  As she is able, she washes windows, inside and out, three times a year.  Need I go on?  You may guess that this was a source of conflict in our home.

Ultimately, through God's steadfast prompting and love for my husband, I practiced cleaning house despite my desire to spend time with people and books. I did read about how to clean and care for a home.  Bonnie's Household Organizer is one of my favorites.  I added books on clutter and how not to be a Messy (books by Sandra Felton).  I looked for help online (check out FlyLady).  And practiced.  And prayed for a willing heart and gentleness when bitterness and resentment brewed.  Little by little our home gained efficiency.  Not perfection, but improvement.

That's why I laughed this morning when three different friends asked for help with their homes.  It's evidence of God at work. 

As far as our home goes, I still pray that God will work in me "both to will and do for His good pleasure."  It takes intentional hard work to keep up with hair on the bathroom floor, laundry, decorating and updating the calendar.  And what a blessing it is when the children pitch in and follow!  God has blessed in this, my place of Samson-weakness.

You already know your area(s) of Samson weakness.  Is God there?  Is He prompting you to obedience and faithfulness?  He will use even those to glorify Himself as we lovingly submit to His working and way.  I pray you will trust Him with your weakness, that He may be strong. 

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-11)