Workin' For A Livin'

Do you have a job? Have you been designated as "essential" by our government? During the week of April 19-25, nearly 30 million Americans filed for unemployment. So what do we do if we find ourselves without a job? How do we put food on the table?

It's interesting the types of jobs deemed "essential" in our country. Garbage collectors are "essential" while religious services are not. You can't cut peoples hair but you can perform an abortion. What do we do if we've lost our job and nobody's hiring?

The Bible is pretty clear about how things "worked" 2,000 years ago. You don't work, you don't eat.

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good." - 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13

These days we have unemployment compensation, social security, disability income. But what would we, or could we, do to earn some cash if all we had was our abilities or our physical strength?

Interesting question. I look at myself and wonder what it is that I, on my own, could do to buy food and to pay my taxes? Answers are few and as hard to come by as a job.

I write stories but no one would pay money to read them. I could mow somebody's lawn I guess but I live five miles out of town. I could hunt and fish to put food in my belly but how do I get actual cash?

Think about it. How would we actually survive? The Bible tells us what to do. Or what NOT to do.

"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:31-34

We read that and say, "Yeah, that's nice but I need to eat. My baby needs diapers." No! Read those verses again. The first sentence is a command by Jesus telling us "do not worry!" He actually says it twice.

Yeah, but.

NO! God will provide!! What we are lacking is patience, not a job. We lack faith, not food. That's a hard thing to stomach right now but it's true. Yes, look for a job. And look with open eyes. Well, there is a farmer down then road. He's hiring. Maybe he needs someone to drive the tractor. Look around!

A friend of mine lost her job. What is she doing? Making masks for people. Another friend of mine was looking for some puzzles. She also was out of work - a waitress. I took her some puzzles. She gave me some strawberry jam. God will provide. "O, ye of little faith."

PRAY!!

Workin' For A Livin' - Huey Lewis and Garth Brooks

This Is Why

Are you struggling with something right now? Maybe it's an illness or a physical disability. Do you think Jesus actually cares? I'm sure He does. But do you think his main interest is in healing you? You might be surprised by the answer to that question.

On my way home from work one night this week I was listening to the keynote speech from the 2013 National Religious Broadcasters Convention. It was given by Joni Eareckson Tada - a Christian author, speaker, radio host . . . and quadriplegic.

She spoke about what it was like when, as a 13-year-old, she dove into a t00-shallow portion of Chesapeake Bay and severed her spinal cord between the fourth and fifth vertebrae. During her therapy, and subsequent decades of paralysis, she experienced anger, depression and suicidal thoughts and religious doubts. Understandable.

She prayed yet it seemed as if her prayers went unanswered. She began to question her faith. But God had something in mind for her BECAUSE of her paralysis. He wanted to use her to inspire others and she has done just that.

As I listened to her speaking she caused me to hear a Bible story from a totally new perspective - that of a paralytic. The Book of Mark.

^"32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. ³³ The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴ and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

Why was everyone looking for Jesus? Well, it was because He was healing them. Wouldn't you bring a sick or dying relative to someone who could heal them? Of course!

But Jesus did something unexpected. He refused to heal any more. He left town. He left the sick and hurting and crippled in their infermeties.

Then came the verse that changed Joni's outlook on her paralyzed life.

^"38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” - Mark 1:38

He came to preach the good news. The healing was more of a way to get people to listen to the gospel. Jesus knew His time was short. He had to be about His Father's business.

The reason He didn't heal all of those who wanted to be cured or made whole was that, if they received the Gospel, if they believed in Him, they would be getting brand new glorified bodies in heaven. For all eternity. Why spend time healing Earth's failing physical bodies when He could offer someone the opportunity of eternal life with perfect bodies . . .    forever.

Which would YOU rather have?

Joni Eareckson Tada Speaks at The 2013 NRB Convention

Oh, and the photo at the top of the page . . . it was painted by Joni . . . with her mouth.

The Deaf Shall Hear

Last week Saturday I was volunteering at a local food pantry (Ruby's Pantry). My job there is to preregister people out in the parking lot so things will go more quickly at the registration desk inside.

I approached one couple I had never seen before and told them that they needed to fill out a registration form. They lady seemed disinterested and confused. I repeated my words, offering her the clipboard. She still looked confused. Then she looked at me and said, "I'm deaf." Ah. It was then that I understood. She couldn't hear my speech. So I changed my approach and communicated in a different way - through her husband.

After that encounter I thought about us humans and the way we look at things. We tend to interact with others based on OUR rules and OUR understanding of the truth. The problem with that is, not everyone plays by the same rules or has the same understanding of what's right and what's wrong.

Watching the nightly news gives daily examples of people with differing viewpoints and attitudes. We often say, "What are these people thinking?" when in actuality, they are doing what in right in THEIR eyes.

We humans have differing belief systems, faiths, denominations, opinions and political views. We all have things we like and don't like, approve of and disapprove of. Some oppose abortion, others are in favor of it. Each one is sure they are right and others are wrong. Are we deaf to each others viewpoints? Are we blind to those things that don't comply with our way of thinking? So who is right? We can't ALL be right.

As Christians, we know where to find the truth. We know that the Bible contains words of truth that we are to live by as WE change OUR thinking to align with Christ's. We ourselves can change no one. But we know someone who can.

"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
 
³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” - John 9:1-5

Jesus then gave the man his sight.

When God spoke about healing the sick in the Bible he wasn't necessarily talking about actual deaf people, the blind or about those who cannot speak. He is usually talking about healing our hearts. Our souls. And about whether or not Jesus is our Lord.

We ALL have "disabilities." We all have wounds and scars. It is how we deal with our inabilities that enables us to do great things. What disability do YOU have that you could turn around for God's glory?

I look at myself (that's where we should always start) and I seek out my deficiencies, what do I do with them when I find them? I take them to Jesus and ask, "How can I use this for your glory? How can I honor you? How can I turn my negative into a positive?" He will answer.

The husband of the deaf woman I met last week was also deaf. His means of turning a negative into a positive was learning sign language to communicate with his wife. He used written means to communicate with those who didn't speak HIS language. He found a way. He found light in the darkness and a way to "hear" despite being deaf. Can we say the same about our shortcomings?

"In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see." - Isaiah 29:18

A Girl and A Blind Man Ballet