Thoughts for Thursday!

Last night at our Wednesday evening Onward Christian Seniors class, I was reminded about how we older folks have many in and around us and many near and dear to us, who are in need of God's touch. Perhaps it is because of our age that we see things through a different lens or some of it is because many of those near to us are older and they are dealing with related challenges. My wife played piano and we sang some wonderful songs that helped lift our hearts and our voices towards our Great God. Seeing her up there playing reminded me how she used to play piano when we were teenagers. She's played in regular Church services, she's played for hundreds of children's programs, and there she was, still using her talent for the Lord. She would be the first to say it's not that much of a talent but look how she has used it for over forty five years!

She didn't hit every note correctly but she did exactly what God is pleased with, she was willing and she gave her best. He is always well pleased whenever His very own recognize Him as their Father through their willing heart to give service as a way of demonstrating their love. Last Sunday we heard from a lay minister in our Church who spoke on the subject of being a servant. He commented how that we don't become a servant by serving, we should have a servant's heart that leads us to serving. Many can do servant like things. But God always reads our thoughts and our motives. Yes, I tell people to keep on keeping on in serving even when their heart is not in it because I know they have the potential to get back on track with God much sooner than if they throw in the towel. However, our speaker made a good point. How much more pleasing to God and honoring to Him whenever we lead with our heart that then directs our hands!

I remember hearing a great preacher say one time that on the day when crowns are going to be passed out and rewards given, he just believed many will be shocked at who becomes the most recognized on that day. He illustrated this by talking about someone who, in this life, had very little of this world's goods, but spent many, many nights on their knees praying for others. He envisioned all the great preachers, the great theologians, and the great scholars sitting and waiting for their names to be called. Suddenly, from the back of the room, a little old lady who no one had ever heard of, is called to the judgment seat to be personally commended by our Lord and Savior. She had given what she had from her heart and because of that she was piled up with crowns that she could then lay at the feet of her Savior.

That's a great word picture for us today because we do live in a world where the strong, the powerful, and the polished, seem to dominate, even within our Churches. However, as the story said, God is not impressed with our ability and polish, He is always reading our heart. One little old lady on her knees night after night making a difference for time and eternity. So, if you ever believed yourself to have very little to offer to the kingdom business to which we are all called, then you need to think again, and allow God to flow through you in making you a servant, from the inside out. When we do this, He will take whatever it is He gives us to do, regardless of how small we think it is, and bless it for His honor and glory. Always remember, as the song says, "Little is much when God is in it, Labor not for wealth and fame, There's a crown and you can win it, If you go in Jesus name." Amen. .......More later.