Tuesday, April 9, 2013

"Just a STICK!"

    Both Deb & I enjoy teaching - from children to adults (that especially includes teens and university ages).  The tough part about teaching is trying to gauge whether or not you're 'connecting' with your class. And we love it when God the Spirit does the connecting!
    In a recent class, a lady pastor stood and shared following a lesson on Moses' call at the burning bush (which really wasn't burning...but that's another lesson).
"I used to think that I was no one, " she said,  "not really capable of being used by the LORD.
    "I'm poor and don't have much.
       "Then I hear the LORD ask Moses, 'What's in your hand?'
    "A staff! A staff!!" (she became animated) A staff is just a long stick! A STICK! It was just a STICK! A stick is just a piece of WOOD! I am created in the image of God!  If God can use a stick, which is just a piece of wood, He can use me - He showed me that I'm worth more than a stick!
                                    "I am His!"
   She concluded with both arms in the air, her fellow pastors and leaders cheering her on with heart-felt exclamations of affirmation.
   And with her sharing, God reminded me of the transformation He brings into a life. We are "...God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."(Eph. 2:10, TNIV)
                       Friend, you and I are more that just a stick.