It All Depends On Your Standards

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Matt. 25:23

I stopped to catch my breath during my run Saturday morning. As I paused, my eyes were captured by the way light and shadow danced off the varied shapes of leaves in the woods along the road, then by a group of squirrels that ran by playing chase across the top of the fence. Their antics caused me to laugh out loud while my ears enjoyed the melodies of multiple songbirds. In that moment, I basked in the beauty around me and marveled at the creativity of the Father.

Diversity in Nature

There is such diversity in nature, even just in our neighborhood- from the buck crossing the road, the rabbit that nibbles our grass in the early morning, the tiny hummingbirds that zoom across the yard, to the assorted birds- titmouse, chickadee, cardinal, and woodpeckers- that eat at our feeders all day. Yet, of all the diversity in the animal kingdom, only we humans hesitate to use our talents and gifts out of fear of comparison. We doubt that we are enough.

Does the squirrel doubt it's worth because it's a stay in the woods small creature that simply gathers nuts? Does a sparrow hide it's song because it doesn't sing with the range of a mocking bird? Does the worm refuse to crawl from its hole because it lacks beauty? No, they have no fear. The squirrels play and gather with abandon. Each bird sings their unique song with joy. Why? Because they don't hear the words of the enemy whispering doubt and insecurity. Their hearts are tuned to only the Creator.

Gifts from a Father
 
Each of us has been given gifts, talents and skills of various kinds. The world may value some abilities more than others, but God doesn't. Yours may not be the ones you desire or perhaps you weren't given as much of one as someone else. It's not our choice what gifts the Father bestows on His children; it's only His. Each is given to us specifically and is intended to be used--to help others for the good of the kingdom. Even if we don't understand their value, God wants us to use them in obedience- without excuse and without comparison. 

God first called me to write a pre-teen Bible study. My initial yes was immediately replaced with doubt and hesitation. Questions of, "Who am I to write about God's word?", "For what purpose would I be called to write?", "Who would ever want to read it?", "What will I do with it?", ran through my mind as I resisted. But I would pray and yield--somewhat. I wrote most of it and shared it as I wrote, with my then pre-teen daughter. I began to believe that our talks together were the purpose for writing it.

But over time He continued to call me, like someone pulling on your shirt tail- a gentle but persistent call to write more.  But I didn't know what to write, how to go about writing or why or....and then a funny thing happened. After years of pretending not to hear, I finally yielded fully and embraced His call. I came to realize that it's not my place, nor is it necessary for me, to understand the plan or purpose. My job is simply to write in obedience, as well as I can, and to make it available to be read. God's job is results. He will lead those who He wants to my words. I'll write until I feel led to stop. Is my calling to write for millions or only a handful? Only God knows. I have no expectations. My purpose may have been fulfilled simply in your reading these words today. Perhaps they were the words you needed to read to do something that will truly make a difference. 

Embrace Your Diversity

God could have simply created one type of every needed species, but He didn't. He had a greater purpose. He created you with a greater purpose, too. It's one only you can fill. Only you have your unique view of life and combinations of experience and talents. Someone else can do the job, but never the exact same way as you. Embrace your diversity.  If you sing, sing out loud. If you crunch numbers, do so with joy. If you write, write with abandon. If you love on people, love unrestrained. If you build buildings, do it with passion. Whatever you do, consider it a work of God.  Don't worry about other people, just do your best with what God has given you.


Message for the Journey:

Don't be afraid to use the abilities you have. They are there for a reason. And when you do, should you find yourself tempted to compare your performance, check to see which standard you're using. It's the world that asks, "What results have you achieved?" but God asks, "Were you obedient to my ways?". Don't listen to the enemy. Tune your heart to hear only the words of the Creator. 


Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

Galatians 6:4-5 Msg.

©AnnWilds2011

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Spearmint, Spirits & Praise

Last weekend while pulling up spent plants at the end of the year’s growing season, I was reminded of my first adventure into gardening. At our previous house, I had several beds of roses and decided to venture out and add a few herbs to the beds. I planted several varieties and then added spearmint. It smelled so good and while all the new plants did well, the spearmint really took off. Its aroma was delicious and the rich green of the leaves was lovely, but it began to get out of control. It kept growing and growing, crowding out the other herbs and it even tried to hone in on the roses. I kept cutting it back but that didn’t solve the problem so eventually I pulled it up, roots and all. But spearmint is tenacious. Every time I turned around, a new shoot was springing up. I’d pull the new one out, yet before long another would sprout somewhere else in the bed. Even two years later an occasional shoot of spearmint would appear.


When we became God’s children, He placed His Spirit inside us, to teach and guide. But our old nature still exists. Even if it was pulled up by the roots, remnants of it remain. It is more tenacious than spearmint. In Luke, Jesus tells us that as a tree is recognized by its fruit, the words we speak reflect which spirit is active in our heart. When we are living in the Spirit, our words, both audible and those we think, reflect His fruit. They are words of love, peace, gentleness and joy. But when we are not, our words reveal another spirit living in us, competing to produce fruit in our lives.

Are you like Jenny?
Jenny seems to have a ‘yes, but’ response to everything. If she was told the sun was shining she’d add that it would still likely rain on the parade. If she came into a financial windfall, she would complain about having to pay the taxes. Jenny is the type of person who sees the glass as half empty all the time. Her words reveal what lives in her heart: a negative spirit.

Are you like Frank?
Frank hones in on the one wrong thing in any situation. When his son studies hard and brings home A’s and one B on his report card, Frank is upset it was not perfect. During a presentation at work he notices only the one mistake in the document making certain that everyone else is aware of it too. His words reveal what lives in his heart: a critical spirit.

Are you like Lisa?
Lisa worries all the time. If her children want to play at their friend’s homes she tells them no because they might get hurt. She worries about their development; always comparing them to her other children. She worries to her sister that her husband won’t find her as attractive as the women at work. Her words reveal what lives in her heart: a fearful spirit.

Are you like Bob?
Bob is controlling. He has his five year plan charted and knows exactly where he is on it at any time. He seeks to continually improve- his education, his looks, and his earnings. He is always focusing on what he needs to do to get further ahead because he can't count on anyone but himself. His words reveal what lives in his heart: a doubtful spirit.

Are you like Jason?
Jason is jealous of his co-worker’s promotion at work. He feels that he should have gotten the assignment instead. He hates the fact that things seem to come so easily for some people. He has had to work hard all his life yet he believes he is never appreciated. His favorite saying seems to be “it’s not fair”. Jason’s words reveal what lives in his heart: a resentful spirit.

God did not give us His Spirit so that we would live in fear, doubt, selfishness or resentment. He gave us the Spirit to produce sweet fruit as a blessing for others. When sprouts of other spirits creep into your heart, turn away from them and toward praise for your God. As we give Him praise, He fills us anew for God inhabits the praises of His people. Through praise, you'll pull out the unwanted seedling and once again live in the Spirit. 



The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

PawPaw's Penknife

     PawPaw, my grandfather, had a beautiful yard which he lovingly tended with painstaking care. Every blade of grass was neatly cut and every hedge trimmed in a perfect line. PawPaw worked in his yard daily. Rising early, he would carefully walk the yard surveying his domain. If water was needed, he gave it. If nutrients were missing, he fed it. I loved the feel of his lawn on my bare feet. The grass was always thick and lush, a deep shade of green. You needn’t worry about stepping on a briar for he didn’t permit anything but grass to grow in his lawn. He was diligent in watching out for weeds, keeping a vigilant lookout any time he was in the yard. If he saw one beginning to emerge, he would immediately take his trusty penknife out of his pocket ready to do battle. PawPaw would insert the blade into the ground right next to the weed, press the weed against the blade with his thumb and then pull them out together, removing both the weed and its root. He was a warrior and weeds were his enemy.

     Just like a weed in PawPaw’s lawn, doubt can grow in the garden of our faith. It may sprout from a seed within our heart or it may be planted by the enemy. Either way once there, it seeks to take root and grow, spreading from one into many. Yet, every single weed of doubt must be removed for even one can weaken our faith and the power of our prayer. In the book of James we are told that doubt blocks our prayers from being answered.

     If you experience doubt, you are not alone. We don’t start with a full and perfect faith. We are all like Thomas who doubted what the others had seen or Peter who faltered while walking on water. Thomas failed to believe Christ’s promise of resurrection. Peter failed to believe in His power. When we doubt, we fail to understand the awesome character of God.

     Just as we don’t start with a perfect faith, we don’t each start at the same faith level. In Romans we learn that God gives each of us a different measure of faith. Our task is not to achieve the faith of someone else but to grow whatever measure we are given until the one day “we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13).

     While we grow towards the whole measure, weeds of doubt will creep into our faith garden but we have a much better tool than a penknife to eradicate them. God’s word is more powerful than any manmade tool. Along with prayer, it is the most powerful weapon to battle that which would weaken or destroy our faith. Be proactive, ready with scripture to combat doubt when it comes.

     When doubt says:

•  God’s love is conditional. Faith says God’s love never fails for it is written, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness”.(Jeremiah 31:3)
• God will hold my past against me. Faith says God forgives completely for it is written, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us”. (Psalm 103:12)
• My sin is too big for God to forgive. Faith says God forgives all things for it is written, He “forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases” (Psalms 103:3)
• God isn’t good because bad things happen. Faith says God is always good for it is written “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. (Romans 8:28)
• God is distant and far away. Faith says God is near for it is written“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth”. (Psalm 145:18)
• I can’t count on God to take care of me. Faith says God meets all my needs for it is written, “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing”. (Psalms 34:10)

     When Jesus spoke to His disciples, He was also speaking to us. To Peter, He said “you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31) To Thomas, He said “Stop doubting and believe." (John 20:27) Like PawPaw we need to be diligent, ever ready to go into battle against our weeds of doubt for we are God’s warriors and doubt is an enemy.