August 30, 2025 – Useful

I walked out on the terrace with my coffee this morning and was surprised that the first taste of fall has arrived!

Utmost – “The snare in Christian work is to rejoice in successful service, to rejoice in the fact that God has used you.”  Yes, for sure that. I really do get a thrill when I realize God has used me in some way. I don’t think it’s a selfish thrill, but I’ll read on to see what Chambers has to say on this point. “Keep your relationship right with Him, then whatever circumstances you are in, and whoever you meet day by day, He is pouring rivers of living waters through you, and it is of His mercy that He does not let you know it.” It’s a gift to us when God lets us know we’ve been a gift to others. The rest of the time we just keep following where He leads and letting him work it all out for good, for us and for them.

These next lines speak to me about where I’ve been in my life and where I am now as far as “usefulness.” The empty nest feelings were blunted by being able to take care of and enjoy my father’s company (most of the time ha ha) these last years. God’s timing is just so amazing! After he died, I did have the feelings of wondering what I can do now to contribute to the greater good around me – go back to work now that my time is my own? Volunteer?  “The tendency to-day is to put the emphasis on service….If you make usefulness the test, then Jesus Christ was the greatest failure that ever lived….It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him.”

Power – “Jacob…obviously had the confidence in God to wrestle with Him until He received a blessing. This is shocking to those of us who have difficulty being bold in prayer or in our approach to God.” The more we think of Him as our Friend, the more comfortable we will be in our relationship – like we do with our friends when we question them and kid with them and eat with them and share life with them.