(Photo: Dore Bible Gallery)
So maybe I still have New Year's Resolutions on the brain, but something struck me yesterday as I was reading Acts 19.
Paul is in Ephesus, where magic was big business! These people were used to seeing impressive acts. So when Paul was lead there, in verse 11 we're told that,
"God gave Paul the power to do unusual miracles."Other translations say extraordinary or special.
The results were extraordinary, too. Verse 20 says:
"So the message of the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect."
In the verse before, we're told that many who believed were convicted enough to have a bonfire and burn their magic books, which had a value of several million dollars. SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS! Wow, that's real conviction and devotion! And it reminds me of the few CD's I got rid of in college that I had gotten in the 12 CD's for a penny mail order deal, that really was no deal. That pales in comparison, huh?
Maybe because it's January and a new year. Or maybe because I'm getting older and mediocrity is becoming increasingly disappointing, but in reading this account of Paul, this is what has got me thinking:
God used extraordinary measures (big miracles: immediate healings and lives changed for the better) through Paul to reach the Ephesians. Beth Moore, in her study on Paul, says that God used him because He knew Paul could be trusted to bring attention to God, rather than himself or anyone or anything else. God used the ordinary to do the extraordinary. Paul was ordinary, but he was also trustworthy.
Today, in January, 2009, in my home, my community, I am so ordinary. But am I trustworthy? Does God trust me enough that should he use me, I will bring the attention to God?
My concern is two-fold, you see. Sometimes there are moments where I think I am doing pretty good. I may have a really good parenting moment and completely forget that I've prayed over and over for help in being the best mom for these kiddos. I think I have just willed myself to be "really good" at mommyhood, or I must have read the right book on whatever issue we're dealing with. I know in those moments, I am not being trustworthy to bring the attention or focus back on God.
Other times, when I do give God the credit, or bring the attention back to him, I wonder if He just cringes. I know He's bigger than that, but really...do I ever bring the focus on Him when a moment later or moment before, I do something completely uncharacteristic of someone lead by the Holy Spirit. Something so foolish or selfish or stupid. This happens so often, I'm sure.
So, it appears I have more to work on than brushing Belle's hair or putting the laundry away this year.
But while on that subject, we may have had a break-through, (or God has blessed us) with keeping Belle's hair less tangle-prone. Here's how we've been doing her hair the past few days:
Thank you for always challenging me to be better.
ReplyDeleteI think your daughter's hair looks really cute. Maybe I should start doing that with mine. She hates having her hair combed. She cries every day. And I'm as gentle as I can be. Thanks for stopping by. Cute cute family. Our photo is done by photo shop. They are all individual pictures taken separately and then cropped together!!
ReplyDeleteI love what you said about mediocrity becoming increasingly disappointing - so well put.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for stopping by my blog too and for your sweet comment!
Blessings,
Shilo
Reminds me of this passage in I Cor. 1:
ReplyDeleteFor ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
I like to think of us humans as those weak things, that, being just who we are in Christ, we're able to confound anyone who meets us. Yes, it can be incredibly uncomfortable at times (I've had a few of those moments) but we've gotten what we need to across. Thanks for the reminder about being trustworthy too.
As a side note, I learned from the hairdresser to take things slow when it comes to tangles, I think I forgot the gentleness part, but now that I take my time, Allister doesn't seem to mind the comb as much!
Great deep thoughts. God always has a new challenge for us doesn't he....
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about Proverbs 3:5, 6 the other day and I had the same stuff rolling through my head. Just when I think I've "got it". Boom.... I am humbled by the beautiful and challenging word of God.