Weekend Reading, 13 November

Not a lot of time spent online this week, but a common thread ran through most of what I read. I don’t think that’s unintentional. The following posts challenged my faith, my hope, and my joy. It was exactly what I needed this week.

Of course any challenge in life can be related to by someone’s experience in the Bible. There is no shortage of examples to follow and lessons to be learned.

• Rick Lancaster wonders what we think is too hard for God, then reminds us of Abraham and Sarah.
• Colleen Foshee gives some driving tips for our faith and encourages us to not slam on the brakes when the road gets rough by reminding us of Joshua.
• Michael Perkins reminds us of Peter and how he got distracted by the wind and dedicates himself to focusing on what’s important.
• Jay Cookingham looks towards the example of Bezaleel who used his talents to worship God.
• Herb Halstead sees Moses being given the promise of seeing his reward after he obeyed God, not before.
• Kely Braswell thinks of a young David as a small young man in a small backwater town. But God saw something more. Like David, we are not too small or too remote for God to see us.
• Tullian Tchividjian uses the example of Job to see that our joy is robbed not by suffering but by idolatry.

But we have personal stories and anecdotal parables to draw from.

• Ryan Tate asks us where we are going. The challenge is do we really have an answer?
• Chuck Salser thinks when we get stagnate and stale in our faith, we become like a smelly locker room. Yeah, that sounds about right.
• Trevor Lund introduces a series of lessons on faith by asking how big is your but?
• Justin Davis wants a new story to tell.

And to add to all this, I received the following email, forwarded from a sister in Christ who just lost her husband.

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sunup to sundown, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might!

Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: (He will do it every time)!

You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn’t moved” Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.

Satan said, “Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough.”

That’s what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

“Lord,” he said, “I have labored long and hard in Your Service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”

The Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done.

Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed.

But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back shiny and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard.

Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock.”

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him.

By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God Who moves the mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong……. ……… ……… .Just P.U.S.H.

When the job gets you down…….. ……… ……… ………..Just P.U.S.H.

When people don’t do as you think they should…………. Just P.U.S.H.

W hen your money is “gone” and the bills are due………..Just P.U.S.H.

When people just don’t understand you…………………….Just P.U.S.H.

P = Pray
U = Until
S = Something
H = Happens

And if that isn’t enough, check out Kevin Martineau’s Favourite Links Friday, Jason Stasyszen’s Light Friday Hit List, Glynn Young’s Saturday Good Reads, Ryan Tate’s Five to Check Out, and Tyler Braun’s Fortuitous Bouncing.

Have a blessed weekend.