“What’s in Your Hand?”

“What’s in Your Hand?”

During the November 2018 Missions Conference at Victory Church Randy Hurst, Advancement Director for AOG World Missions, brought a stirring message challenging the church family to use the resources God’s entrusted to us to reach people with the message of forgiveness and hope through Christ. He cited a taxi driver in Southeast Asia who used his cab to share the gospel with his passengers and had led many people to faith in Christ, Mr. Hurst used this example to encourage us to be “taxi evangelists” wherever God has placed us.

As I listened I thought of God’s call of Moses to lead the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan. Moses wasn’t particularly thrilled with this assignment and gave the Lord five excuses why he wasn’t the man for the job. The third one involved his concern that the nation wouldn’t believe God had appeared to him (Exodus 4:1). In response God asked a simple question: “What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2). Moses replied that it was a staff (probably a walking stick) which became a snake when he threw it on the ground and a staff again when he picked it up. A short time later God used this before Pharaoh to show His superiority to the Egyptians’ gods but Pharaoh refused to listen (Exodus 7:8-13) and the ten plagues followed.

Over the years I’ve heard of a number of “What’s in Your Hand?” stories in which God has used His people in unique ways:

*One of my college Bible professors used his skill as a softball pitcher to minister to troubled teen boys.

*A pastor in New York had a dog training school through which he built many contacts in his community.

*A gentleman in Victory Church who recently entered Heaven turned his carport into a workout area for disadvantaged young people, a number of whom accepted Christ.

How about some biblical examples:

*”…Shamgar…struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.” (Judges 3:31).

*”…David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone….” (1 Samuel 17:5

*”Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish….” (John 6:9). (We know the rest of the story here.)

What’s in my hand? What’s in yours? Whatever God puts there can be used in ways we’d never think possible as we dedicate them to Him.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

“Same Ol’, Same Ol’?”

 “Same Ol’, Same Ol’?”

For the past ten years I’ve worked as a chaplain in hospital and hospice settings. I’ve picked up some medical knowledge during this time so have to be careful about appearing to be giving opinions or advice in an area in which I’m not trained or qualified. Clinical practitioners use many abbreviations for equipment and procedures (MRI, CAT scan and EKG to cite a few). I’ve become familiar with some of these terms but frequently run into one I’ve not seen before on patient referrals so have to ask one of my colleagues to explain.

Perhaps the one I saw most often in my hospice work is ADL, standing for Activities of Daily Living (dressing, bathing, eating, walking, etc.). As a patient’s condition worsens he or she will need increased assistance in these areas which most of us (myself included) never give a second thought, much to my shame.

During a recent day at the hospital I made 17 visits to patients (and in some cases family members if the patient was unable to communicate). The sobering factor for me was that twelve of them were younger than I am! It’s at times like this that I must stop and thank God for the good health He’s given me throughout my life and ask Him to keep me from taking this blessing for granted.

I don’t know where it came from, but the phrase “same ol’, same ol’” has crept into our modern vernacular to describe a situation which seemingly never changes. (For example, in response to an inquiry, “What’s new with you?” one might say, “Same ol’, same ol’”.) Solomon may have been thinking this way when he wrote, “What does (one) gain from all (his or her) labor at which (one) toils under the sun?...What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:3,9, emphasis added). How much better off would we be to say with the psalmist (likely David), “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24).

Even though we might not see great changes from day to day God’s blessings continue with each sunrise. In the words of Jeremiah, “The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.” (Lamentations 3:22-23, NLT, emphasis added). Sounds like anything but “same ol’, same ol’” to me—how about you?

(See the earlier article “A Routine Day?” for another take on this theme.)

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Don't Be in Such a Hurry!"

“Don’t Be in Such a Hurry!”

On an episode of the 1980’s sitcom “Mr. Belvedere” the featured family’s teenage son was concerned that supper would run into his “hot date” time. He saw on a recipe card that the meat was to roast at 325F for 2½ hours. He thought it would cook faster at a higher temperature so turned the oven up to 475F. The result was a visit from the Fire Department when the smoke alarm went off. (P.S.—he didn’t make it to his date!)

Some foods and beverages take a certain amount of time before being ready for sale. Cheeses age from a few days to several years. Karen and I once visited a distillery (it was part of a tour of St. Augustine so don’t get the wrong idea) where we learned that bourbon is placed in oak barrels for four years before shipping. Neither process can be rushed if a quality product is to be the end result so patience is required.

I hate to admit it, but patience isn’t my strong suit. I get frustrated waiting on lines, at traffic lights and when a project takes longer than I think it should. As I prepared to write this article God reminded me of the Israelites’ crossing the Jordan River and entering Canaan, the land God had promised Abraham’s descendants (see Genesis 12:6-7). What an exciting time that must have been! I can envision the people saying, “Let’s go! What are we waiting for?” (I’d likely have been in the “Amen” section!)  But God said, “Wait! Don’t be in such a hurry! There are some things you have to learn from Me first!” So He led them to Gilgal where, among other things, the rite of circumcision and observance of the Passover were restored after not being practiced during the 40 years in the wilderness. (Read Joshua 4 and 5 for the full account.) Once the nation’s relationship with God was renewed the conquest of Canaan could start, beginning with Jericho.

The phrase “Wait on the Lord” (with some variations) appears many times in Scripture. Perhaps the two most familiar are “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14, emphasis added) and “…They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength….” (Isaiah 40:31, KJV, emphasis added). Why wait? Because God’s timing is always right (e.g. “…When the right time came, God send his Son….”—Galatians 4:4, emphasis added) and “My times are in (God’s) hands….”—Psalm 31:15, emphasis added).

 

My toes hurt! How about yours?

(For another look at this theme check the earlier posting, “Always on Time”.)

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan