My Blessings

"Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table." (Ps. 128:3)

I'm a blessed man!

Impact

How far is the impact of a single act felt?  How long does it reverberate?  Does what we do even matter?

Drop a pebble in a still pool or, as above, watch when a fish breaks the surface, however lightly.  The entire pond is affected.  Likewise with each act of faithfulness.

My life today is impacted by choices made by generations of faithful men and women before me.  How will my choices shape the heritage I will pass along?

For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. (Ps. 61:5)

Glory

In I Cor. 15, Paul makes it clear that there are all kinds of glory -- celestial, terrestrial and otherwise.  I kind of like both of the "glories" pictured.

Yet, Isaiah 42:8 is a solemn warning that we must never rob God of His glory. Indeed He will not give it to another.  No robbery when Creation itself sings "Glory!".

Role or Identity?

I'm not sure but would assume that this bee doesn't struggle with role/identity confusion.  Truth is, I inadvertently caught it on short final for the pollen harvest.

We humans on the other hand have a big problem with keeping our roles and identity separate.  We're motivated--and rightly so--to do a good job in the various positions we find ourselves filling.  But does being a good ______ (fill-in-the-blank) mean I'm a good person?  One who is worthy of God's love?  The admiration and respect of others?  Not really.

We recently read the biblical account of the rebellion of Korah during the Israelite's time in the wilderness.  It's an amazing story that fits our modern discontent and tendency to murmur, complain and ultimately rebel way too close for comfortable (a.k.a. distancing) comparison.

What's even more fascinating, and convicting, is how Moses and Aaron responded.  Either could have easily said, "You're right, God--wipe these people out."  Instead, in the face of grievous accusation and rebellion against them personally, they entreated God to spare the people, Aaron literally "standing in the gap" between God and the gainsaying children of Israel.

I'd say their identity was in Christ, not their earthly (even spiritual) roles, wouldn't you?

Every Living Thing

 

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Gen. 1:28)

Isn't Creation marvelous?

All Creatures Great and Small

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.
 --Cecil F. Alexander

If you look closely, you'll see a nut in his mouth!