Proverbs 18:24 KJV
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
I came to the Amish country of Ohio for the purpose of resetting. Over the past few months I have somehow managed to get my mind into a very weary place. I was not only physically tired, but mentally tired. I would sit down to write and my mind just wouldn’t get into gear. It would idle. As if I were sitting along side the road in a car, watching the world go by. It’s been frustrating and draining. Today is the day we’re heading home. And the first day of clarity really. We’ve been here four days; but it took the first three just to get me caught up on rest. I played the guitar, I worshipped, I read the Bible and I rested. And of course I spent a lot of time with David in the car driving the roads of Berlin, Walnutcreek, Sugarcreek, Kidron, and Charm. My absolute happiest of places. Why? Because it’s simple. It’s a land filled with hardworking families and neighbors supporting each other working toward one destination… Heaven.
If I were home this Sunday morning, I’d be preparing for church, literally and spiritually. The church is another of my happy places. Because it is the body of Christ. It is there that His body comes together, the hands, legs, heart, mind, all the parts and pieces. And before you say it or think it, every church has a butt or two as well. The body wouldn’t be complete without them now would it? Who are they? I wouldn’t dare say, but you may already have names and faces popping up in your mind. The point of saying that is, the reality of life is it’s not perfect. But God is.
Destination Heaven
Everybody wants to go, but I see fewer and fewer packing for the trip. What’s in your suitcase? If I were to make a check list for packing it would look something like this:
I would like to say that’s all you’d find. But there would also be many failures. Because like the “butts in the church” that is reality. Children of God are a work in progress like the farms I’ve seen in Ohio. Some of them are filled with many fruits of their labor. But there were some gardens that were struggling to produce. There were farms that we passed that I’m sure were very productive, but boy did they stink! One of the sweetest things I seen at multiple Amish homes were gardens of flowers that you could pick your own bouquet. Either I had not noticed that in years past or it’s something new, but it made me smile to think of them sharing their beautiful labors with neighbors or even strangers who passed by. Shouldn’t that be what our lives are about? Sharing the beauty that God gave us to create through our talents?
I’ve been missing that mark lately. I’ve been so tired from sitting around idling, I haven’t shared many of my flowers. How about you? What is your gifts that God gave you? Are you using them for Him?
The parable of the talents was there in scripture to remind us that God expects a return on what He’s given. He didn’t give it to you to put in the ground or in a box. He gave it to you to invest.
Matthew 25:13-30 KJV
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. [14] For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. [15] And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. [16] Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. [17] And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. [18] But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. [19] After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. [20] And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. [21] His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. [22] He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. [23] His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. [24] Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: [25] And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. [26] His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: [27] Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. [28] Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. [29] For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. [30] And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
It’s a great day. Let’s get busy filling our suitcases for the Lord.