I slept less than three hours last night….
The last thing my wife said to me was, “I hope you sleep”. My response was, “Me too but, I probably won’t”. Correct I was.
A fantastic 25th anniversary celebration had ended on Tuesday but, Wednesday was waiting for me, with its sleeves rolled up.
It started early, and it didn’t really let up all day. I took Wednesday’s problems to bed with me.
Now sitting here at my dining room table in the silence that only this time of night can deliver, I once again feel l am failing in so many areas of my life.
That’s the enemy talking though. Not God.
Looking over the cup of coffee in front of me, the photo you see is what God used to make that above point to me. A table.
I can remember ten plus years back when that same table was empty, except for two things, a small lamp and an often dust covered Bible. (Picture that vs what you see in the photo)
I looked at the table for a bit, then walked over, sat down, and took inventory…..
My block calendar, set to April 23rd – Which is a new day and another chance. God is forever making “all things new”. That includes me. (And you)
Two implement holders – Filled with everything from pens to markers to highlighters, that I use to capture the various thoughts, ideas, and stories that God continually gives me to share.
My Bible – The one I have since read cover to cover that has stopped being decoration and became a guiding light to my life. A priceless resource.
Eleven marked up church bulletins – From the last eleven Sunday services. Filled with note cards from the finer points of the service and sermon where God said…. “write that down”.
The portfolio – I received from my mom as a high school graduation gift that has been with me at hundreds of Sunday services over the last decade plus, faithfully carrying the words I leave with each week.
23 note cards – Standing on edge to the right of the light, that are title cards from the last few weeks alone, for stories I have not written. Flip them over and the backs are covered with the bullet points for the story, where again God said…. “write that down”. (There are hundreds of these in various other places)
Devotionals – One of which was sent to me by a fella named Jerry Tapp in Wisconsin. I didn’t know Jerry until he reached out wanting to send me a copy of the devotional he had written, which includes a story about me and my writing ministry that he had been following for years. I had no idea.
The wooden box – Filled with the note cards, the title cards to the stories I have written and shared over the last several years. Along with Sunday sermon notes. The box can hold over 600 note cards; it is almost full.
The small wooden sign – A $3 impulse purchase from last week that states…. “The world needs who you were made to be”. A subtle reminder to follow the tug God puts on my heart, to follow Christ, and to work the unique gift that he put inside of me. (We all have one)
I could keep going but the point is made, and the writer downer is this….
If this were my son sitting here in the dark wrestling with the “things” of this world, and I was the all-knowing and infinitely wise father that God is I would tell him, look me in the eye and listen very carefully to the words I am going to say to you….
You may have “things” son, this world is full of “things”, and everybody has “things” but, when I look at that table, and the things on it, the only thing I see…. is a fella who has won.
Get In The Boat. Do Your Part.
Press On…. From Nose To Toes!
Shane / #16