Work Honestly...So As To Have Something To Share

This past June when Myranda and I packed up the kids to move them back to Texas from Kentucky we were told by several different people how severe the drought was back in this part of the country.  To be honest with you, I had a hard time believing that it was any different than any other year.  From the time I can remember, West Texas has never received enough rain to satisfy folks.  Prayers for rain have been uttered from our lips almost continually since the first settlers built their homesteads on the plains.

But as we waved goodbye to the lush green of the Bluegrass in Kentucky, I had no idea what was in store for us as our small "wagon train" headed west.  All was well until we got to Oklahoma City.  As we pushed further into the Western half of the United States the grass went from green to yellow to brown to dirt.  That's right, dirt.  It really was a shock to me to see just how dry it really was here.  When we finally got settled in Haskell, it was the same here as it was everywhere else.  We went days, then weeks, then months and we still had no moisture.  We were really in a drought like I had never seen before.

Parishioners of my church continually asked for us to pray for rain.  We prayed and believed that God was hearing our prayers and that he would indeed send the moisture that we so desperately needed.  Thanks be to God, we have gotten rain.  We are still behind on our yearly average, but the wheat has sprouted and the grass did green up some before the cold weather arrived.

But in the midst of all of this drought and severe heat, God spoke to me.  He reminded me that even though we have been going through a terrible time of want that he has continued to provide for us.  We are still a blessed people.  Our church is doing well and the Holy Spirit is actively engaging us as we study the Word of God together.  The other night in our Ephesians Bible study, we came across some expectations St. Paul had for the Gentile Christians.  One of these expectations was this, "Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy" (4:28).  Our small group had a great discussion about this verse.  Paul instructed these men and women to turn away from sin not to just help themselves, but to give to those who were in need.

Christianity is not just about turning away from sin and trespasses; it is also about turning towards God.  That is Paul's message to the "thieves."  Quit doing the worldly things and turn towards God by encountering those who are needy.  I look at the church here in Haskell and I think about all the things I want.  The list is long.  But when I look at the list of the things we need, it is almost non-existent.  Just like God has continued to provide during the time of drought, he has continued to supply all that we need.  So this year, our church is reaching out to those in need.  We are working so that we can share the blessings that God has given us with people who cannot help themselves.  We are taking the proceeds of a fundraiser that we normally use in-house and we are planning on blessing others with those funds.

We can all examine how richly we have been blessed compared to those in need.  When we do, we realize that God has given far more than we ever can.  God has sustained us this past year in ways that we can't even imagine.  We do serve a mighty God and he has given from his great storehouse; not for us to keep but for us to give away.  A week from today our nation has set aside a day of thanksgiving.  On that day, let's all remember to turn away from ourselves and turn towards God.  So come, ye thankful people, come and remember that we work not to gain for our wants, but so that we too "have something to share with the needy."  Until next time...

+May God richly bless you and keep you during this season of Thanksgiving.  May you also go and give from your abundance.



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