The Great Commodity: Self

I have several books on my "now-reading" list that are collecting dust.  I brushed one off last night and read a few chapters.  The Warmth of Other Suns is about the great migration of African Americans that occurred in the United States between the Civil War, World War II and into the 1970's.  I am toward the end.  Many of the participants in the book are reminiscing about how their migration from the south has affected their lives. 

In an interview one of the gentleman says, "So we are of a particular time" speaking of the historical events that he and those like him had lived through.  Freedom from slavery.  Jim Crow Laws.  Extreme racism.  Flight to the north or the west.  The generation that witnessed first hand many of these atrocities are now out of place, relics of an earlier time, seeking an outlet to teach the wisdom they gained finding the audience less than eager to listen.  

It got me thinking that we are all of a "particular time".  The events that surround us and, most importantly,  our reactions to them define us in some ways.  Like Pastor Shawn's message a few weeks ago about Philip and the Ethiopian or Queen Esther or any of us, we are all "of a particular time."  How we use that time we are in shapes us and becomes a part of our story.  It gives us specific wisdom if we are humble enough to be taught by it.  Wisdom to share if we are courageous enough to let God use it.

During Pastor Shawn's message God challenged me to spend myself for Him.  I have been talking with Him about what He meant exactly and have found that the situations I find myself in and events that unfold around me greatly determine how I spend myself for God, how I use this "particular time" for Him.  Most days I feel I have nothing left to spend but I have found the most amazing truth.  If God asks me to spend myself for Him in a certain situation He also gives me the means with which to pay.  St. Augustine once wrote, "Although He is our native country, He made Himself also the Way to that country."  God is my goal, and He is also the means with which to get to that goal.  How crazy cool is that!!!

We are all of a particular time.  I challenge you to spend your greatest commodity, yourself, for God within your particular time and trust that He will give you the currency you need for each specific situation.

He is a Great God and He will do it!

The Curator

To Curate
verb
select, organize, and look after the items in

It think that is what God is doing in me,  In each of us really.  

Footprints

God is gracious and has allowed me to measure my life with road markers from His Word.  As I stand looking back over the roadway of my life this morning I can see several stone markers in relief against the horizon.  There are smaller markers as well but over the last 15 or so years there have been several Scriptures that stand out marking great growth in my relationship with God.  I thought I would share them with you today.  The first listed below I came across pre-marriage but didn’t really allow to sink in until I was well into my first year.

“Listen to me, O royal daughter, take to heart what I say.  

Forget your people and your father’s house.

For the King is enthralled by your beauty;

Honor Him, for He is your Lord.”

Psalm 45:10-11

Living to please only God and to trust that He made me beautiful was a hard long uphill climb but the view was worth it.  Lots of unnecessary baggage was left by the roadside as I gained that marker on my journey.  

One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 32.  At one time a verse from this Psalm was one God made me memorize because it described me to a tee.  

“The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life, I will advise you and watch over you.  

Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”  

Psalm 32:8-9

On a quick side note, the word translated as “mule” in this version is translated frequently into another word for a horse-like creature.  I felt like one a lot while God was teaching me the lessons I needed to learn during this time in my life.  The bit and bridle kept me on the roadway when I wanted to wander.  I can say that I need the bit and bridle much less these days, however, this side of heaven I think I will never fully quit them.  

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you.

O Israel, the one who formed you says.

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.

I have called you by name; you are mine.”

Isaiah 43:1

Did you know that God has pet-names for us?  He does.  Ask Him and He will tell you yours.  It’s pretty cool to hear the Lord and Maker of the Universe call you by your heavenly given nickname.  Empowering and humbling all at the same time.  

So here I am.  Walking along the road looking to the horizon for my next marker, you see, those I have already passed were put in place long ago.  They have been frequented by others; they were established before the creation of the world.  I know I am not alone in this journey even if the markers I pass seem just for me.  The Words in Scripture were written for others just as much as they were written for me; and I seek my next wayside to learn more about myself and, more importantly, to learn more about God.

“They are not monuments, but footprints.  A monument says, ‘At least I got this far,’ while a footprint says, ‘This is where I was when I moved again.’”

William Faulkner