In the Hand of God

    So, Here I am.........finally.  Hoping to bring you news, a chuckle and a little inspiration today.  I am almost finished with my full-time, part-time job.  Told them I was dragging up and coming to the house.  Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed working.  I like the company, the people, the things I have done there....even the drive to and from.  (It gave me time to be by myself, listen to my Motown or Gospel.)  But I realize that they needed me more than I could be available and still take care of things for the home and family.  I'm looking forward to getting my home organized after the chaos it has been in ever since Rita blew through. 

And I realized that it is important to spend this little time before Bubba steps into manhood with him.  To be there to soak up every precious memory of Bugs fleeting childhood.  And that my contrary old man actually needs and wants me!  Even if it is only to share a cup of coffee and a little small talk in the evenings. 

It's nice to know that my employers aren't holding it against me.  They are actually leaving the door open for me to go back from time to time for a specific need or short term project.  So, that's nice!

Hubby is back to building custom cabinetry, after a detour through the oilfield, illness and unemployment.  Bubba has his first bona fide job at a local feedstore after school.  Bug....is up to mischief and also next weeks Star Student at school!?  Go figure.  (Her mischief was an un escorted trip through the woods & down the pipeline and a mural she did in crayon on the back of her bedroom door!  No cartoons this week.  No going out, except for chores.) 

My mail today, had a couple of things that seemed to tie together in my mind.  The first is a little joke and the second a devotion from Godswork Ministry.  I hope that together they lighten your day and brighten your way.

First, the humor:

 

A man was praying to God.

 

He said, "God!?"

God responded, "Yes?"

And the guy said, "Can I ask a question?"

 

"Go right ahead," God said.

 

"God, what is a million years to you?"

 

God said, "a million years to me is only a second."

 

"Hmmm," the man wondered. Then he asked, "God, what is a million dollars worth to you?"

God said, "a million dollars to me is as a penny."

 

So the man said, "God. Can I have a penny?"

 

And God cheerfully said, "Sure!!.....just a second."

 

 

And now the devotion:

 

 

IN THE HAND OF GOD

There is a beautiful story about a child playing with a vase his mother
had left on the table for a few moments. When the mother turned at the
sound of her son crying she saw that his hand was in the vase and was
apparently stuck. She tried to help him and pulled and pulled until the
child cried out in pain. But the hand was stuck fast. How would they get
it out? The father suggested breaking the vase but it was quite valuable
and the child's hand might be cut in the process. Yet he knew that if all
else failed there would be no other alternative.

 

So he said to the boy, "Now, let's make one more try. Open your hand and
stretch your fingers out straight, like I'm doing, and then pull!" "But
Dad," said the boy, "if I do that I'll lose my penny!"

 

The boy had had a coin in his hand all the time and was holding it
securely in his tight little fist. And he wasn't prepared to open his hand
and lose the penny. But once he opened his hand it came out of the vase easily.

What are you holding onto so tightly as to hinder your walk with Jesus?

 

That vase can be likened to the entrance to the Kingdom of God. It is
narrowyet quite easy to pass in, but first you must “open” your hand to
God and allow earthly things to fall. If we keep our fists closed and hold
fast to what we have and keep it for ourselves, we will be unable to take
hold of the “Hand of God”!

We arrived with nothing and will depart the same way.

 

Jesus told the parable of the rich man found in Luke 12:16-21 who wanted
to build bigger barns to store his grain and goods. But God said to him,
'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who
will get what you have prepared for yourself?' We need to be on guard, or
the things we own will begin to own us. It is our own clenched fist that
makes us a prisoner.

 

Open your hand to the hand of God and you will see great things take place.

Author Unknown