Be Used

Here are some thoughts i wrote down the other night. . .

Currently i am laying here on my side upon a bed given to me by the Lord, in a home provided by the Lord, from which I will leave in the morning in a truck given to me by the Lord. Blessed, but why? So many others live their lives without any of these -- so why am I privileged to have them. Why am I in a country where I preach the Word without any threat, much less of death? Well I know that nothing is given to me for my sake, but because of Him. It is all to be used for the advancement of his kingdom. To bless the lives of others. This life is not about me, it's all about him, so I guess it's time to figure exactly who it is that needs the things I have been given.

When Ruth left her homeland and came with her mother in law to the land of Israel she showed up near the fields of Boaz. I wonder if Boaz ever thought, "Lord why have you given me so many blessings?" Surely Ruth was not the only person who was blessed, but certainly without Boaz having been blessed the Book of Ruth would not exist in the Bible as we know it. A beautiful story of the kinsmen redeemer would have been lost. However when Ruth came Boaz rather than thinking that he was the reason for his great wealth, was a man who welcomed the gleaners of the society and because of this the Lord blessed him. The more available or open we become the more the Lord will use us. We are simply a conduit through which the Lord's love and grace and blessings flow. Just keep the conduit clean and there will be nothing to prevent the flow of the Holy Spirit. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, declares the Lord."

Think of others first. Thinking of others is not something which comes natural. So easily we become intoxicated with ourselves and think of nothing else. But the Lord says to be sober-minded and filled with Spirit.

Our Lord does not need anything spectacular to do his work, he just needs someone who is willing. When Balaam was going astray the Lord spoke through a donkey and it seems that the Lord continues to do so. You are not the end of all means, nor are you insignificant. The Lord simply wants to speak through you. His truth and love needs to be declared to the world. Will you speak?