I read this one below from my sister and as surprised to realize she was thinking of me as she read it. Strange thing is, today her view of me encouraged me or perhaps the Lord used her view to cause me to look at myself. I have often felt recently that this load was too heavy to bear and I just didn’t want to continue. I have even cried out to the Lord to allow my escape. He has been silent. That kind of silence that causes you know He heard you, but is just choosing not to speak. He is close enough, I can even feel His breath, but He doesn’t reply to my insane ramblings.
How often I forget that my dragging the “unbearable load” some short distance is all that God needs me to do in order to accomplish what He wants to do, and I have oft times given up the struggle just before He is ready to change my circumstances. Today I am reminded that the Lord never sends us on a journey without a clearly defined destination. When we pack ourselves up and get on the train, there is a clear point and place that we are destined to disembark. The hard part is allowing the Lord to guide us to the correct stop and be willing to stay on the train until we reach that place.
Today, I am reminded that there is a purpose in everything! I am also reminded that though I feel small, unimportant and know that my opinion is insignificant, where I am positioned serves a purpose as well. I don’t want to and I don’t see how it will make a difference, but today I will choose to say; 'God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will.'
Below is the note from my sister that spurred my thoughts and the story that spurred her thoughts:
This is precious—when I read it, I couldn’t help thinking about the parts that we ALL play in His awesome unfolding picture. When I look at someone like my sister Wanda, who works for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association—I can see her part. God has used her in powerful ways in some of the greatest tasks because she has been willing to be used of Him in the small details. It hasn’t always been easy, but she has persisted. I wondered as I read this story if I have been there doing my small part when He had a purpose that I didn’t understand. I hope as you read this story it encourages you as it encourages me in my desire to serve Him well. I thought of you today and I smiled. Blessings
The Ant and the Contact Lens: A True Story ...Wow!
Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a breather during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens
She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there.
She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens..
When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains. She thought of the bible verse 'The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth.'
She thought, 'Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me.'
Later, when they had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, 'Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?'
Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it!
The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, 'Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You.'
I think it would do all of us some good to say, 'God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will.'
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called!
Yes, I do love GOD. He is my source of existence and my Savior. He keeps me functioning
each and every day Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him....I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. ( Phil . 4:13)
3 comments:
That's a great thought and question to ask one's self.
You have been able to touch hundreds of thousands of lives on this long loaded journey. The magnitude of your reach is wide. Do not give up hope and do not faint, WM. I don't know when or how, but I know that Jesus is working on your behalf & He will show you the next step. That's the great thing about Him!
What a great story - thanks for sharing it.
I enjoyed reading your recap of the kids event in Knoxville. You sure had a lot on your plate, and I'm glad you were able to tangibly see the fruits of your labor. :-)
Keep on keeping on! If your travels ever bring you to the Midwest please let me know - it would be so much fun to see you and introduce you to my little character of a daughter. (Aspects of her personality are quite similar to her Auntie Sandrine. She loves to talk, she loves her cell phone, she loves to sing, and she is a bit of a drama queen. She also does silly things like put herself in time out, probably because she knows it drives me crazy. Does any of this sound familiar?)
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