Happy Anniversary to Josh and Deed!  They are two who have come together as one and that one compliments and makes better the two – and ideal accomplishment in marriage.

Don’t know what Carla and I would do without these two, they are instrumental in getting Carla’s garden ready each year and the many  other things they do at a drop of the hat.

Feeling better, still groggy, still off a bit and last night was restless, again, but not as bad.  I was told it would take a week to ten days before I get over this problem – I can wait.

They also told me that it may take a few months to see if the operation takes hold, that I might not see much improvement during that time – but, I ‘think’ I do feel some improvement.  Other than the light-headedness and I thinking comes from residual of the anesthesia they used, the A-fib symptoms seem to be way down.

Time will tell.  I am very thankful for your prayers and support that, with the gifted hand of the surgeon, makes this a lot easier to deal with.

If I recall correctly there is about 9000 beds and 13,000 staff at OHSU – Carla was going through the handout they gave us, and bright and center was one of my nurses – nice lady, for them to choose her she must also be very good.  God does help keep care of us in His use of others.

Isaiah 48:17  Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

It is God’s determination to teach us and to lead us.  It is not for Him to learn from us and to follow us around.

As a parent we watch our children closely, especially the young ones who have yea to determine what danger is all about.

We hover over them; we follow them to be sure they stay out of harm.  We may let them try something, but we are right there to catch them should they fall.

God also does that for us, however, first we must be busy trying.  To do that effectively, we must learn from Him, we must then apply that knowledge to our lives.  We must follow Him, not lead Him.  We must rely on His guidance, not depend on Him catching us from foolish behavior.

One of the things He wants, indeed demands of us, is to share what we have learned and teach others about Him.

Mathew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

As we look at today being the day we honor men and women who have labored and accomplished so much by hard work and dedication to their trade, may we also bring that same mindset into our service to Christ.

The best process of teaching workers is to tell them, show them and then have them show they can do the work.  It is a tried and true hands on method to teach them their craft. 

Of course the more difficult the task, the longer it takes to accomplish at a high level.  Reading laws, policies and procedures of both the trade and the company a person is working for is a vital part of the teaching. 

To do the job correctly requires that the employee follow the rules of his trade.  When he veers away from the established methods his work can become shoddy and worthless.  The product is flawed and may have to be destroyed. 

That is the same way we must venture into our service with God – we must first accept His terms – written in the Word.  The very first thing is to acknowledge our sins and then accept His Son’s sacrifice for our sins. 

We must follow the rules – and in order to do that we must read them, listened to Christians who are skilled at properly interpreting God’s Word to allow us to see the nuances of a life in Christ.  For a Christian to simply attend church and then walk out without allowing Christ to direct their path is no better than an employee listening to his trainer, not bothering to read the manual, and then try to do his job correctly.

Each company that employees people has some kind of mission – some are elaborately stated, others are less so, but there is a reason for their existence (most of the time) and if they don’t do the best job they can then the business closes.

A business depends on the integrity, the willingness to learn and take direction, loyalty and hard work of each employee in order to fulfill their mission and stay in business.  The employer wants employees who learn and who can work without his constant hovering or supervision to make sure they get the job done correctly.

God’s mission is simple, He wants to save His Creation.  He wants every man and woman to come to Him and serve Him so that WE will forever in His presence.

He has chosen man to be His tool, His guide to other men.  He wants us to tell others about Him.  He wants us to do the work on earth that will help open the eyes of the sinner and make them realize that He exists, He loves them, but without Christ they are doomed.

He wants us to teach them, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

While He is with us, while He supports us, it is our job to tell the world about Him.

We don’t have to have a college degree; we don’t have to have a title to serve God.  We DO have to have a willing heart.

Willing to listen to Him.

Willing to read His Word and apply it to both our lives and our witnessing to others.

Willing to follow Him wherever He leads us.

Willing to show Christ’s love to others so the Holy Spirit will be able to reach them.

Willing to do our job without having to have Him hovering over us – there for our support and guidance – but He doesn’t want to have to be concerned about our actions as we have the knowledge, training and desire to be a loyal servant to Him.

Every Christian, no matter what gender, no matter what age, no matter what nationality has the command to tell others about Christ.  We can do it best by learning to do it correctly.

Some people pick it up quickly, others take a bit longer, but all must have the goal of serving God so the mission of all men coming to Him can be attained.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again