Just Ordinary People

"Sometimes we Christians exalt the gifts of preaching and leadership and ignore the equally

important gift of caring for people. Not only did Jesus himself carry on a substantial ministry for the sick, but he also said that when we help the needy, we are actually serving him. We certainly care about the spiritual needs of the people we meet, but we must not ignore their physical needs either. The Bible makes no distinction there. Love propels us to help people in any way that we can. So whether you are mopping the brow of a feverish child, driving a neighbor to dialysis, or praying with a friend over a cancer diagnosis, you are showing love to Christ . . . and sharing his love with others." The One Year Women in Christian History devotional, Randy Petersen and Robin Shreeves

These words caused me to stop and consider the work of God's servants. Many times the common, ordinary person doesn't think what they do is anything great. But God does.

I write notes. Jerry helps where needed. Some of you care for the sick. Others do lawn care, shopping, house work; some cook meals and some drive people to where they need to go.

"God does not so much need people to do extraordinary things as he needs people who do ordinary things extraordinarily well."

William Barclay (1907-1978)

Yes, preaching and leadership is very important, and I faithfully pray for and encourage those in leadership positions. I get a lot of encouragement and motivation from those who are serving in leadership roles. Hearing the Word of God preached inspires my soul. I love those who God has called to preach and teach, encourage and convict. In the end, their just ordinary people too.

Maybe they do get a little more attention. They influence all of God's children to serve with the gifts God has given to them. No gift of service is unimportant. When one heart touches another heart God smiles.

"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for anyone else."

Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

Some of you may write like me. Others call and check up on friends and those who are ill. Some care for children while the parents sit under God's teaching. Some drive a bus to bring the children to church.

Christians cook, clean, do administration work and sew. Some arrange decorations for the church. Some read to those unable to read. Some care for pets. Some wash floors. Some work with the disabled.

"All service ranks the same with God."

Robert Browning (1812-1889)

Ordinary people. Because their heart is alive for Christ, everything they do brings a smile to God's heart.

"When the heart is right, the feet are swift."
Thomas Jefferson, (1743-1826)

So whether you're a preacher, leader, teacher, caregiver, baker, administrator, mower, cleaner, driver or hundreds of other types of service, we're all ordinary people who love God and do our best to serve Him. And we're all needed. All of us. 

Be glad you're an ordinary person. Use the gift(s) God has given you. When I was a new Christian, during a struggling time someone wrote me a note to encourage me. That one note changed my life. And what you do can change a life. We just have to be open to serve the One who changes lives. What a privilege!

Nature and The Word

 

"For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

Romans 1:20

 
The Liberty Bible Commentary describes Psalm 19 like this: "The harmonious revelation of God's  glory as seen by His world and His Word." I've always enjoyed reading this Psalm declaring God's perfect creation.

"The creation of God speaks without sound or language, but with great pictorial wonder that is understood throughout the world," the commentary says.

I enjoyed reading Warren Wiersbe's words regarding Psalm 19. Wiersbe, who died last year, suggested the title to Psalm 19 as "The Perfect Word." He wrote: "The revelation of God in nature prepares us for His revelation in the Scriptures."

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station through which God speaks to us every hour if we will only tune in."

George Washington Carver (c. 1864-1943)

Continuing, Wiersbe wrote when speaking about the Magi, "The light of nature led them to the light of the Word, which led them to the Light of the World . . . It is God's testimony. It's name is the law of the Lord. The sun is to creation what the law is to God's people, bringing light, warmth, life, and growth."

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

Psalm 19:1

All of nature reveals God's handiwork. Can you think of the times you've been outside, maybe driving somewhere, and were astonished at the beauty you saw? Were your next words thanking God for His creation? I've experienced that many times through my life. A beautiful sunrise on the way to work. Canopy of color while driving through the forest in Fall. The sun as it falls into the ocean.

  "Nature is the art of God Eternal."

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) 

I was 28 when I was saved, and the difference in my appreciation of creation multiplied when I truly saw creation through His eyes. You just want to burst out in song! 

"If you have never heard the mountains singing, or seen the trees of the field clapping their hands, do not think because of that they don't. Ask God to open your ears so you may hear it and your eyes so you may see it, because, though few men ever know it, they do, my friend, they do."

McCandlish Phillips

Well, this Psalm supplies the same feeling. "The Bible is the book of our heart. Every time we read a book, watch television, or listen to a speaker, something is being written on our hearts. Let God write His Word on your heart . . . When we love the Lord with our hearts, we see Him in creation and in the Scriptures," Wiersbe said.

 

"The best thing is to go from nature's God down to nature; and if you once get to nature's God and believe Him, and love Him, it is surprising how easy it is to hear music in the waves, and songs in the wild whisperings of the winds; to see God everywhere in the stones, in the rocks, in the rippling brooks and hear him everywhere, in the lowing of cattle, in the rolling of thunder, and in the fury of tempests."

Charles Hadden Spurgeon (1834-1892)

The closing verses in Psalm 19 are a sweet prayer. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight. O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." King David is believed to have written this psalm. The commentary says: "David has surveyed the wonderful heavens that declare the glory of God; he has looked into the wonderful Word of God that declares His glory; and he has seen himself in light of these two creations of God. He has recognized the completeness of God's creation, the perfection of His Word, and his own sinful condition."

If your eyes haven't been opened before, it's time you looked upon His creation and seen His remarkable ability. God made all things. Our eyes see it and our ears hear it. You only have to look.

As Wiersbe says: "Don't simply worship the God of nature. Get into the Word of God and let God get into you."

Heart to Heart

   "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

                                                 Antoine De Saint-Exupery (1900-1944)

 My very own snow heart!

I looked back over my blog posts through the years in the month of February to see what I'd written for Valentine's week. I want to share some memories with you. Maybe you'll be inspired to do something different to encourage another this Valentine's week.

"I enjoy reading blogs others have created. I gravitate towards those who enjoy photography, and artists whose pictures and writings I enjoy. Susan Branch (www.susanbranch.com) and Karla Dornacher (www.karladornacher.com) are two artists who inspire me and encourage my heart.

"Last week I stopped at Susan's blog and found a simple recipe for chocolate eclairs. (Perfect chocolate eclairs in the picture below.) I'd never tried making these delights before, and since the recipe was simple I decided to give it a try. Saturday morning I went to work to make the best chocolate eclairs I could. "I'll take them to my Sunday School class in honor of Valentine's Day," I decided.

 "Suffice to say my first attempt was not successful. The little puffs of dough didn't rise, the cream filling turned out ok (much to my astonishment), but the chocolate didn't come out smooth for dripping over the dough. I couldn't help but laugh at my attempt. They certainly would not be going to my Sunday School class. (Pictured ... my first attempt.)

 

"Jerry tasted one and said they were good. Mom even liked them. I finally ate one and must confess it did taste good. Jerry said he'd take them to his Sunday School class. "Only if you tell them it's my first attempt and they don't look so good," I required.

"Sunday morning came. I walked in my Sunday School class and there were sweet donuts in the shape of hearts for us to enjoy. I began telling my friends about my ill-fated eclairs when in walked Jerry, Floyd, Steve, Talmadge, Dan, Tom and Barry, each holding one of my misshaped eclairs.

"Jerry said we had to tell you he told us this was your first attempt in making chocolate eclairs," Barry said. "Please bring us all other rejects! They are delicious!"

"It was so funny! They had me bending over with laughter. And my dear Sunday School friends were disappointed they weren't eating them!

"My friend, Janet told me: "There is no such thing as a bad eclair if there was something you could lick off your finger!"  I like that!

"Yes, I will try again. With a few pointers from my friends I will attempt a second time to make chocolate eclairs. The next time, though, I know I can still enjoy the delicious taste, even if they don't pass the "look" test! And Jerry's class too!"

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"For many years I've made a habit of sending out 30 to 40 Valentine cards to friends and family, widows, those hurting and those forgotten on Valentines Day. I was still in my single days, and had my share of broken hearts and decided maybe I could cheer other hearts on this special day. (Since retiring, I'm sending out a few less than those energetic days.)

"It has become an annual ritual I look forward to each February. You can imagine how many Valentine cards I've purchased and created. One that I still believe is my favorite was created from a graphic in my friend, Karla Dornacher's book: The Blessing of Friendship, A Gift from the Heart, published by Countryman in 2000. I got permission from Karla to create it with the names of my friends in the heart. It was a labor of love. I tried to find the one I created but haven't yet, so this is the one in her book.

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"The widest thing in the universe is not space; it is the potential capacity of the human heart. Being made in the image of God, it is capable of almost unlimited extension in all directions. And one of the world's greatest tragedies is that we allow our hearts to shrink until there is room in them for little beside ourselves." A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

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I loved these stamps that came out in 2007 in time for Valentine's Day. What goes better with love than kisses!And I know a lot about kisses . . . the chocolate kind! One visit to Hershey brought home a  kiss chocolate dispenser. I kept it at work for all to enjoy. I was even named "Ministry of Chocolate" at the convention! I fulfilled my job well!

 Yes, Valentine's Day can be an enjoyable day whether you're experiencing sadness or joy. Think outside of yourself and think what you could do to bring a smile to someone else on Valentine's Day.

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I found this years ago on the internet. Don't know who created it, but it certainly is a true statement from the Bible, found in John 3:16.

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You have time to make a difference in someone's life this Valentine's Day. Just like an encouraging note, a Valentine's Day card cheers the heart and tells the receiver that they are loved. If cards aren't your thing, a call, a text, an email and any other new communication tool will serve the same purpose. What about it? Make a difference in someone's heart? You'll be surprised what it will do to your own heart!

                                        ". . . I have you in my heart . . ." Philippians 1:17