Archive for The Gathering Place "The Gathering Place" is a web community where people can gather and make new friends, share ideas, enjoy a few laughs and learn about many interesting things together. It is a safe place where friends can correspond with each other about what they love.
Tonight I went into the restroom at NCAC and while I was there I noticed a long handled squeegee behind a small table in the corner. I remembered seeing it some time ago and wondered how long it had been there. My mind wandered and I thought about how the squeegee felt about being left there in a corner unused. “Oh please use me!” “I’m ready!” “Oh why have I been left here to gather dust in the corner of this stinky restroom?” “I really am ready to be used!”
Well it wasn’t much of a stretch to imagine how some Christians feel about not being used by God. The good thing is
WE ARE NOT INANIMATE OBJECTS THAT CANNOT MOVE!
We can follow God’s leading. We can move to where God is working. We can place ourselves where God can “get a handle on us.” We are not by nature “stuck in a corner.” Like that squeegee. Get up and put feet to your faith and meet God there.
God's Warrior
Excellent example!
Snookie
I know in my case, I've been guilty of waiting for God to lead, even push, me in the right direction. Sometimes He does that, but other times He meets us after we've moved. (I was reminded of this by my brother-in-law yesterday.) Movement requires faith, and it's faith-triggered action that gets God's attention.
smokey the dog
Snookie wrote:
........ and it's faith-triggered action that gets God's attention.
That's true! God didn't dam up the Jordan river until after the priests carrying the Ark stepped in.
CajuninKy
Sometimes it is so hard to take that first step of faith but God will reward our obedience.
Snookie
I was privileged to witness this very thing in my family's life over the weekend. My action based upon faith and the prayers of many caused God to meet us in a way that was unquestionably Him. There's a reason the Bible declares that faith without works (action) is dead. The attitude itself doesn't impress God. It's the action that it causes, and the fruit it bears, that impresses Him.
CajuninKy
It's like they say, The road to Heaven is paved with good intentions.
Geoff
Not Inanimate Objects!
So far above and beyond our intentions is the mind, wisdom, and will of our loving Creator and Heavenly Father. He is the beginning and the end and knows the end from the beginning. He knows in advance not only our sincere desire to serve Him, but also the most evil intentions in men's hearts. And, He executes His just and merciful will using even man's ill intent as clay in His hands.
Joseph's brothers had no concern for the will of God when they sold their brother into slavery and lied to Jacob that he was dead. God knew of their evil hearts before the foundation of the world and was able to use even their hatred and cruelty to make Joseph a ruler in Egypt and save multitudes from death by famine.
And, of course, Calvary is the ultimate example. The absolute worst thing that ever happened in the entire history of creation was the death of the Son of God on the cross. Then, three days later, the absolute best thing that ever happened in the entire history of creation was the death of the Son of God on the cross.
How much more surely is He in control of the decisions of those who earnestly seek His will, even in the most impossible of situations when circumtances force us to take actions that may feel like weakness or disobedience.
"Our God is an awesome god,
He reigns from Heaven above,
With wisdom, power, and love,
Our God is an awesome god."
Yours in the Life of Christ.
Geoff
CajuninKy
What the devil meant for evil, God used for good. It gives us hope in times of battle. When things seem to all be going wrong and the weight of the world is against us, just know that God does not sleep. He is still on the throne and He is working ALL things for our good.
Excellent example!
