Doing the Hard Things

Certain things in life I find quite hard to do. Like walking the 300 feet round trip to the mail box when it's 20 degrees out. I cannot simply stand the idea of going out in the cold just to get a stack of bills and pile of mail that doesn't contain anything for me. So I don't do it and the mail sits waiting for days.
Walking in the cold is just to unpleasant for me. Like teaching a release time Bible class. Teaching 20 3rd graders who don't want to listen and barter away their lunch while your talking is not my idea of fun. Losing my voice because I have to speak quite loud to keep above their decimal level is certainly not a walk in the park.
Tuesday than becomes a day of dread for me, than 40 short minutes its over and I'm free for another week. Suddenly my mind is filled with well meaning thoughts. "Don't have to worry about my Bible lesson for a while". "Won't have to spend another long afternoon in town when I could be home doing nothing". Yes selfish thoughts, thinking only about myself and forgetting about my 20 students. The one's who don't go to church. The one's who come from a broken home. The one's who teach me how to use certain "words" in a whole new way. The little children Jesus died for while He was dying for me.

How can I worship the Lord, thank Him for saving me from my sin and His wonderful grace when I don't even have compassion for His children?

Suddenly I find new strength to do the task given to me. I remember that I am the link to these children for hearing the Gospel. I am the one who knows their names and can pray for them to the One who already knows of the hairs on their heads.

Yes it's hard to do things we don't think are necessary. But God didn't put us here to live life on the beach. God has called us to be laborers in His harvest. Meaning to get out of our comfort zone, like taking a walk in the cold. While duration of the duty may seem unpleasant and the blessing may not be seen right away. Eternal blessings are being reaped.

I will put on my warm coat to shield myself from the cold as I go get the mail. I will pray and prepare for my lesson before I teach. I will praise and thank God for the opportunities He has given me to be His servant.

I teach my Bible class on Tuesday afternoons from 12:15-1:00. Please pray for the children and myself during that time. There also about a 100 other children being taught during the time period of 11:30- 1:00 that is just at one school and one town. Lift up the teachers and children and prayer that the Word of God would shine forth.

Expect Nothing from God

Nothing should be expected from the Lord. I was struck by that thought as I read the 1st chapter of James. Right there in verse seven it read, "For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord," James 1:7.

How often is that true in Christan life. I found myself expecting that the Lord should make this situation better. Fix it, dry my tears and show me a sign of His love. Why shouldn't He make the hard times go away? Trials and times of uncertionty is what the Lord speciaizes and fixing isn't?

Perhaps not, couldn't Jesus Christ called ten thousand angels to save Him on the cross. Our Lord didn't because He loves deeper than the ocean. God never stops loving us. His love is why trials are brought to our lives. When God brings us trials He is sending us a love letter. Saying "I can make you stronger through this". "People will see your love to me through you and I will be praised".

We protest though, we want to praise the Lord after the fact. Telling how good He was to repair our lives. God in His great show of affection loves us too much for that.

Favors cannot not be expected from God. His leading and love can be.