REPURPOSED

January 3, 2017January 2, 2017 | lindamowles

Do you ever feel like you prepared for one thing in your life but that didn’t work out and you are lost now. What do you do? Is your training worthless? Did you follow where you thought God was leading, only to find that your path was blocked? Did God make a mistake?

Well, the answer to the last question is an unequivocal NO. God did not, indeed He cannot, make a mistake.

I suggest that when your life path takes an unexpected twist that you find disconcerting or even disappointing, God is preparing you for His purpose.

watshfield-book-swap-repurpose-phone-booth-in-england — Phone booth and postal box in Watchfield, England

When we were in England, we saw the quintessential examples of English life – the postal box and the telephone booth. The postal box was still used for its originally intended purpose.

However, just as in the U.S., the telephone booth was a thing of the past. As we noticed throughout the country, England has a history of preserving things rather than demolishing them. There were houses that were well over 500 years old, still in use and still as they were centuries ago, at least on the outside. Given that culture of preserving things, in the village of Watchfield, England, the telephone booth was not removed, it was simply put to another use.

english-phone-booth-close-up — Sign showing new purpose for outdated phone booth — a book swap location!

While the phone connections were removed, shelves were installed and the antiquated phone booth became a Book Swap location. In fact, the booth probably had more business with people depositing, taking and returning books than it had before its “repurposing”.

When it appears that God fits you for one task and then that assignment changes, from a human perspective, we become discouraged and sometimes we even question whether we misunderstood what God wanted us to do in the first place.

I know because it is exactly what I experienced. I believed that God wanted me to be a teacher, specifically an elementary school teacher, when I went to college. After two years in ElemEd, I had less than a stellar grade in “Games and Rhythms”, a course that all the students took to get “an easy A”. I was active in music, both instrumentally and vocal, but for some reason I was almost flunking this course.

I spoke with my guidance counselor and he suggested that, perhaps, God was telling me to change my major. After considering that Math, Science and History were not realistic options for me, I changed my college major to English secondary education. In this drastically harder curriculum I had a grade level of 3.8 (out of 4, not 10).

I believed that God had a purpose for this curriculum change but that conviction was challenged when I could not find any teaching position upon graduation. Instead, I found myself working as a secretary/administrative assistant in banking and the law for the next 11 years.

Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day.

1 Chronicles 16:23

Did I misunderstand what God wanted me to do? Was that wasted time? It certainly did not help me as a secretary but that doesn’t mean that they were wasted years.

I suggest that God used all of that training in various ways through the years. In working with children in youth clubs at church, in leading vacation Bible school events with young children, in teaching older children in Sunday School, in developing youth programs at various churches I have attended.

Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

Psalm 105:2

The digression from education into an office environment proved providential also – in each position that I held, my employer noted my abilities and suggested that I attend law school, even where there was no law school in the immediate area. Eleven years post-college, I did attend law school and a 30 year career as an attorney followed.

When the phone booth no longer is relevant, it is time to repurpose and it becomes a well-worn book swap. If we leave our spiritual eyes open, He will lead us. He will not leave you stranded … He loves you and He desires for you to be useful in His kingdom. He uses every event, every experience, every class … He uses everything in your past to pour into your future service for Him.

Why? Because He know exactly what His plan is for you.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

He not only has a plan, He wants us to tell others about what He has done in our life through His plan: we are to be witnesses to others about His grace and love.

saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in Him.”

Hebrews 2:12-13

God knows exactly who He is going to put in your way so that

you can recount your similar experience to support and encourage that person in their walk with the Lord. “Tell of all His wondrous works.”
you can recount how He worked in your life when problems seemed insurmountable so that you can counsel the other person with the knowledge that God does not change, He will work on their behalf just as he did for you. “Tell of his salvation from day to day”
you can recount the blessings that He has brought to your life. “I will tell of your name to my brothers”

Repurposing is not bad – it is one way that God equips us for the walk that He has predestined for us. In your “waiting time”, don’t give up. He is teaching you something even as you are waiting for “the” assignment. In fact, that waiting period may well be just the assignment that He has for you. Thank Him for it and see how your attitude and appreciation for the work and for your Lord grows day by day.

Here Damaris presents the song “I know the plans I have for you” from her album The Heart of God.

Lord, I pray that I would be patient and confident in Your guidance and love for me, even in the waiting periods of life. I pray that even when I would do the work that You would have me to do, it would be all for Your glory through the power of the Holy Spirit and for the praise of God, the Father Almighty.

OUR PLANS AND PRAYER.

November 19, 2015 | lindamowles

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21 [ESV]

I am a self-admitted planner. It is difficult for me to just “go with the flow”. Even when I am “going with the flow,” I am planning what I will do whenever the “flow” gets to wherever we are going. Digression from the task ahead is difficult for me to allow … but praise the Lord that my planning confronted divine guidance through prayer today.

I was scheduled for surgery and a number of beloved friends and family members said they would be praying that all would go well, that I would be protected from complications, and that healing would be sweet. As usual, there is a great deal of preparation for surgery and we did all that stuff, as directed, including packing the overnight bag, taking the book and Bible along with the Ipad, etc.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 [ESV]

The hospital directions were that I could have nothing to eat or drink after midnight, but a note stated that I should take my morning medications before coming to the hospital with a sip of water. I drink milk with the medicine due to the taste if I use water: so, I took the meds with 2 sips of milk, much less than ¼ cup, and we were off to the hospital.

At the hospital, we were conducted into the surgical wing and I received the beautiful gag-green hospital gown to replace my clothing. Then I was placed under a warming blanket and was getting ready for the IV and monitors, etc. That’s when my plans went awry but God intervened in His providence and answered prayer.

The anesthesiologist came in and asked what meds I had taken. I told him, and he said, “ok”.

Then the nurse came in and went over most of the same questions again and confirmed I had taken the morning meds at home. She then asked when I took them. I responded “my husband poured the milk about 7 and I took them right after that.”

The nurse’s head popped up from her clipboard and she said “Milk?” and that was the beginning of the end of the surgery as planned.

She left the prep room saying that she needed to talk with the anesthesiologist about the milk. I was stunned – all this havoc over 2 sips of milk?

The answer to the prayers for protection and no complications became apparent when the anesthesiologist came in and told me that even a small amount of milk causes acid in the stomach. When you go under the anesthesia, all muscles are relaxed and that includes the muscle that keeps stomach acid in the stomach. So, if you have acid there (like from milk) when laying on the flat surgical table under the anesthesia, you can have reflux of the acid into your lungs without anyone knowing it is happening. [Without getting into the science of it, even I know that this is not something that would be considered a good thing!]

I don’t know if God directed me to take the meds with milk so that surgery could not be done on the day that was planned, but I am confident that He answered prayers in prompting me to mention the milk so that I would be protected from adverse consequences otherwise.

The surgery is now rescheduled and I will not be using milk for my meds.

Praise the Lord that He answered prayer by bringing to mind the milk that I had consumed at just the right time so that unwanted complications could be avoided. God has been in the business of hearing and answering our prayers since the beginning.

Back in Genesis, Isaac prayed for his wife:

“And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” Genesis 25:21 [ESV]

Many years later, David said:

“O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.” Psalm 54:2 [ESV]

“But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.” Psalm 66:19 [ESV]

Then, in the New Testament, 2,000 years ago, we have the church praying for Peter.

“So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.” Acts 12:5 [ESV]

As a result of those prayers, God sent angels to the prison and released Peter at night. He went to the house where the church was praying for him and almost did not get in because no one believed that their prayers had been so miraculously answered!

Prayer at Westminster Cathedral (C) — Prayer at Westminster Cathedral, London, England

In speaking of prayer to God the Father, the writer of Hebrews 4:16 tells us:

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” [ESV]

Beloved, the same God who answered Isaac, and who answered Job, and who answered David, and who heard and answered the church’s prayers for Peter, hears and answers the prayers of His children today when we come boldly to Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Think praying is only for old people?

Think praying doesn’t do anything?

Think praying is a boring waste of time?

THINK AGAIN!

Father, forgive me when I take lightly the gracious gift of prayer. Forgive me when I fail to recognize the awesome privilege of coming in prayer to the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. Forgive me when I forget that I can only come to you because of Jesus Christ, my Savior, who covers me with His righteousness and has forgiven me of my sins. Thank you Father for hearing the prayers of your children, even those raised on my behalf. Praise your Holy Name!

WIND CHIMES – SOUND OR SILENCE?

October 13, 2015October 13, 2015 | lindamowles

Wind chimes — I love them.

Wind chimes playing music outside the porch

I enjoy hearing them when the wind ripples through their parts and the chimes make melody along with the leaves and birds, all of nature combining to glorify God through their music.

But, not all the wind chimes are like the two above which are placed outside near the porch windows. Certain wind chimes have been placed on hooks inside the porch.

We did have them outside for a time and their sound was just not … musical, shall we say. The primary problem, though, is that they were not able to withstand the rigors of the breeze. Seems rather weird that a wind chime could not hold it together in the wind, but that is the situation with those that are, now, inside.

Then there is the pottery wind chime from Hawaii that we had outside and it performed beautifully until one of the pieces broke after hitting the side of the house. It is now in wind chime retirement, hanging on the wall inside the house.

A bamboo straw wind chime was a souvenir from an adventure in Jamaica.

Wind chimes made of wood in bedroom window

The bamboo chimes have all the right pieces, but they just don’t make music – they rather thud! A wind chime without the chime. Just window dressing!

Some wind chimes have extra features, like balls that sparkle and, this one in the kitchen, even has a spring holding the chimes up. Touch it and the whole thing bounces up and down with the chimes giving off a rather tinkling sound. But I wouldn’t want to put it in the wind – the spring would have the chimes all twisted up in no time!

Some wind chimes, like this glass blown chime, are just too fragile to hang out in the wind. It makes pretty music when the lower bob is touched, but it is simply not strong enough to endure the wind that would hit it outside. So it views life through the kitchen window.

Those chimes that are outside in the wind are doing what they were intended to do – make beautiful melody when touched by God through the breezes that He provides. Those that are inside the house, for whatever reason, are still wind chimes, but they are not doing what they were intended to do. They are pretty, they are providing ambiance, they are souvenir reminders of the trips that we have taken, but they are not fulfilling the purpose intended for them as wind chimes.

In Matthew 5:15-16, Jesus used a lamp as an illustration of something that can fulfill its purpose when being used properly.

Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Of course, putting the light under a basket so that its light, although available, was not able to do its job is foolishness. But Jesus then continues to say that the disciple of Christ should “let your light shine before others.” Why? For the purpose that others would see the works of the disciple and then give glory to God.

Notably, the very first question in the Westminster Confession of Faith, Shorter Catechism is “What is the chief end of man?”, and the answer is “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” One of the proof text verses supporting this response is 1 Corinthians 10:31 where Paul directs:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

In short, as Christians, we are not called to live an inactive, inert, or passive life. We are called to do God’s will for us. God’s people have always been called to do His will. In Leviticus 25:18, God tells Moses to tell the people:

Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely.

In the New Testament, Jesus says:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

John 14:15. And then he gives the counterpoint command in John 14:24 by saying:

Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. John 14:24

In other words, if you do not keep Jesus’ words, you are showing by your very actions that you do not love Him. It matters not that you say you love Him. The proof is in the pudding – do your actions show that you are keeping His commands?

So the next question is “What has Jesus commanded His disciples to do?” That answer is found clearly in the Gospels. Consider the Gospel of John where Jesus tells us what He wants … actually, He says it three times!

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

John 13:34

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

John 15:12

“These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

John 15:17

And then, while we are loving our Christian brother and sister, as we are commanded to do, we are also to:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 28:19

Jesus knew that we would need power to do this, so in Acts 1:8 we read Jesus’ instructions to the disciples after his resurrection and just before He ascended into heaven.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Knowing that being His witnesses would be difficult, He prayed to the Father for them:

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

John 17:15

Thus, we have the commandments, instructions, power and protection, all provided by our Loving Lord.

So:

Are we wind chime Christians whose grace-filled life makes everything around us more beautiful?
Are we behaving as Christians by loving each other as Christ loved us?
Are we loving those outside the Christian family so that they see Christ in us?
Are we strong enough to love people even when it is hard and windy?
Are we loving people even when they hurt us?
Are we wind chime Christians who are fulfilling the purpose God has for us?

Or:

Are we wind chime Christians who are too fragile in our faith to speak to others or to love those who are unlike ourselves?
Are we wind chime Christians who cannot withstand the torrents of difficulties attendant with Christian witness outside the confines of the church?
Are we wind chime Christians who have opted to stay inside the church, never getting out into the world so that we are not exposed to anything difficult or challenging?
Are we wind chime Christians who are so busy trying to look like Christians that we don’t have the time or inclination to follow Jesus’ command to love others?

Father, may I be a wind chime that sounds your love and mercy to others around me. Forgive me when I have been content to sit on the sidelines of life and have refused to let my witness chime out for you. Holy Spirit, embolden me so that I can do the work that you have arranged for me to accomplish and may my witness be love-filled even during those times when the winds of anger or contempt buffet the way. May I reflect Jesus in all that I do, to your honor and glory.

CAMPING AND CICADAS – LIVING SLOW AND LIVING FAST!

July 14, 2015July 14, 2015 | lindamowles

We were camping at the Panther Creek State Park in Morristown, Tennessee recently. It is a beautiful park, with great facilities including a playground, swimming pool, trails, big fields for soccer or just for running, and beautiful overlooks.

Differing camping styles was on vivid display since there was a tent camping couple immediately next to our RV and a small tent across the street for a family with two children.

It was glorious. Time to relax, to read, to just contemplate the glories of our Lord’s creation. When we had the campfire along with the obligatory s’mores, the two girls from across the street joined in, and later their parents came to tell them it was time for bed, and then the girls’ parents sat down and joined our circle of conversation. What a great way to meet people and share our Christian experience, around the campfire!

At this campground, the RV backed up to the woods and the fireflies in the evening were myriad. Each evening when dusk descended, the chirping of thousands of cicadas was heard, loud and clear, in a way that is impossible in urban life. We might hear a couple of crickets in the backyard: but in the campground woods, the din from the cicadas was positively deafening.

Cicadas. They are an interesting creation of our God and a direct counterpoint to a camping experience – talk about fast living! The 17 year cicada lives underground, around the base of trees in forests and woodland areas, and they dig tunnels in the dirt as their living quarters for 17 years. Then they come out from their underground nursery, after maturing for all those years, by climbing out of “escape chimneys” that they have dug to the surface.

When the ground temperature reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit, they receive a signal. The insects rise up and wriggle out of their burrows to take to the sunlight and fly to freedom, well actually they are not so much looking for freedom as for a mate. Then, after 4 to 6 weeks, during which time the males have mated and the females have laid their eggs underground, they die. Seventeen years later, the ritual occurs again, and the beat goes on.

The Preacher in the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament of the Bible considers life under the sun and calls it “vanity”. R. C. Sproul and other theologians don’t define “vanity” as being vain or of interest in and to oneself, and it certainly is not a table in the boudoir. Rather, Biblical “vanity” is defined as being “futile”. In other words, the Preacher in Ecclesiastes is saying that life is futile – there is no point to it and it just exists and repeats without any ultimate meaning. That certainly seems to be descriptive of the cicada’s life.

But, whether or not the cicadas are a 17-year-occurring annoyance or if they have a significant role to play in the ecological foundation of our world, it is certain that our human lives are not meant to be played out in such manner. We are not insignificant insects to God, the Creator of thousands of galaxies.

The fact of the matter is that God sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to this sin-sick world. He died for us to pay the price of our sin. If we believe that he died and rose again from the dead, and if we repent of our sins and claim Him as our Savior, by faith we will be declared to be a Child of God.

The Preacher in Ecclesiastes concludes by saying:

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commands, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13.

Do you want meaning for your life? There is no secret or magic pill. To find meaning, just reach out and grab the outstretched nail-pierced hand of Jesus. Fear God and keep his commandments. This is the whole duty of man and woman! This provides life’s meaning. This is fulfilment!

Amen and amen.

THE CHALLENGE OF ROADSIDE SIGNS!

June 16, 2015June 18, 2015 | lindamowles

Driving down the highway can, at times, provide thought-provoking images. Going along the interstate, we passed a one‐story building, concrete block, with doors and a few windows. It apparently was the “backside” of the building that was along the interstate because there was no identification of the business or type of activity that went on in the building other than two signs, one on each side of one window.

The sign on the left of the window read “JESUS LOVES YOU” and the sign on the right read “WE BUY GUNS”. At first it tickled me and I laughed out loud … then I began thinking about the signs and what they were saying.

We live in the so‐called “Bible Belt” of our country, and sometimes the expression of Christianity is more cultural than faithful. Of course the use of the phrase “Jesus Loves You” could well be an attempt to witness to those driving down the highway and to perhaps cause the observer to think about his/her response to Jesus’ love.

After all, God is sovereign and He can use even the static, silent sign along the highway for His purposes. Remember the Burma Shave signs along the highway and their jingles and thoughts spread across a mile or more? (I found this picture of the Burma Shave sign on eBay, June 15, 2015) Certainly, if advertisers could use the power of roadway signs, the Sovereign God certainly could also!

But, there are many other possible reasons that the signs were in such place. Was the business in the building using the camouflage of Christianity to bring in customers for their firearm business? Or, conversely, was the use of Jesus’ name in connection with the purchase of guns a laudable attempt to rid firearms from the community and thereby secure peace? Or were two businesses sharing the same building with the single entrance at the back along the interstate?

While we cannot, and must not, judge the motive of the owner of those signs, we can use them to consider our own behavior. How do WE use the name of Jesus?

The free, almost flippant and mindless, use of Jesus’ name in conversation in our society has trivialized it so that it seldom actually refers to the God/Man who is the Son of the Sovereign Living God. When it is said in our modern world, it is almost never in homage to the name of the King of Kings.

In contrast, consider how the Scripture refers to Jesus’ name. The Apostle John says:

“But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:31 (ESV)

Paul, when writing to the Philippians said:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)

Clearly, the Biblical writers did not think Jesus’ name was something to be treated casually or in angry outbursts or cursing.

It is the name at which every knee will ultimately bow. Indeed, Jesus is the Name of our Savior! As one who claims His name as our own, as a Christian, we should be cut to the core when others misuse His name. This is the Person who died for us, who took our place on the cross, who redeemed us from our own sin. This is the Person who voluntarily came from Heaven to live in this sinful world and bear the hatred of those He had created, all for the sole purpose of saving His people from their sins.

Perhaps the signs we saw along the highway:

Are a reminder that we should be careful when we use Jesus’ name.
Are a reminder that we should use His Name in such a way that our speech would bring honor and glory to Him.
Are a reminder that we should use the Name of our Lord in a manner that shows our love for our Savior.
Are a reminder that we should use His Name in a way that identifies us as Christians to those who who hear our conversation.

If someone were to follow me down life’s highway, would my conversation and life signs point them to Jesus?

May it be so, my Lord!

Creative Talents on Display

May 2, 2015May 2, 2015 | lindamowles

I confess to not being the most artistically creative person in the world. In fact, when the children were small, I would begin to draw an illustration for them and they would stop me, saying that they could do it themselves. In short, the concept of sculpting something out of a block of something is as foreign to me as is the thought that I would go out and fly an airplane tomorrow! I do, however, appreciate both the pilot and the artist!

My husband and I were privileged to come across such artistic activity in Reedsport, Oregon where, quite by accident, we found an international chainsaw carving festival competition. As you might suspect from the subject, the tools used were chainsaws and the medium was wood – huge logs, more precisely! These logs were mammoth … at least 6 feet tall and who knows how wide. This is the stack left over as the competition had already begun when we took this picture.

Logs for chainsaw carving competition — Logs ready for the competition

Now, to me, this is a sawed off tree. Perhaps I could make some firewood chunks that would fit into the fireplace to keep us warm during the winter, but that’s about it. Oh, you could also hang a squirrel feeder on it … that would make the woodland animals happy!

But these folks had other ideas. LOTS of other ideas. I love the little bear that is under the wooden blanket; he captured my heart. If we had driven to Oregon, we would have carried him home with us.

Some creations were humorous.

And some were monumental. The mountain man was intricate and not yet completed when we took its picture.

As I wandered around, I was praising the Lord for giving people the ability to pursue this calling and make something beautiful out of materials from God’s own creation. Romans 12:6‐8 states:

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

While various gifts and talents are unique to each of us, each of them should be used for God’s glory – they are, after all, the gifts that He has provided to us. Left on our own, without the input of the Lord, we would not be able to do what Paul says in Romans as they are outside the normal scope of human nature; but I believe that even the creative gifts of art and sculpture are from Him. Surely, whatever our gifts and abilities might be, they are given their highest and best use when rendered in service and in honor of the Lord.

May I appreciate the talents that others have and may I use the talents He has given me to glorify God, the Father, to whom all glory and honor is due.

What talents do you have that could bring praise to the Lord?

Driftwood

April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 | lindamowles

We were in Oregon several years ago and came across this driftwood on the beach. It was beautiful, yet there is something oddly sad in seeing this chunk of a formerly alive tree lying, abandoned and quite dead on the beach.

Driftwood can be defined as wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach of a sea, lake or river by the action of winds, tides or waves. In other words, it is unwanted debris on the beach.

But, God’s creation can use even that which is dead and washed up as driftwood on the beach. Even this unwanted stuff has a purpose – in the water, it can provide shelter and food for birds and fish. A number of critters, such as bacteria, in the ocean will then decompose the wood and gradually turn it into nutrients that are reintroduced into the food chain. When driftwood is deposited on the beach by the wave or wind, it can shelter birds, plants, lizards, and other animals. It can even sometimes become the foundation for a sand dune. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driftwood]

In the same way, God can use even those of us who have been washed up and perhaps abandoned on the beach of life, apparently useless to those who pass by. Perhaps we have lost our job and feel useless in taking care of the family. Or, perhaps a spouse has found another and has declared you to be “washed up” and you feel, and perhaps even become, abandoned. There is no seeming end to the abuse that people inflict on others!

Praise the Lord that He has a purpose for each of us. Romans 8:28 says that all things work together for good to those who love him and who are called according to His purpose. In short, the world may see one thing but God sees quite another – an apparently washed up individual is, in God’s eyes, a beloved creation who can minister and function uniquely for His purpose.

When we feel washed up, we just need to wait on the beach of life to see what God will do in and through us. He does not ignore us or forget the plans that he has had for us from the foundation of the world. (Jeremiah 29:11)

When His plans are not readily apparent, we need to rest in His unfailing grace and allow our driftwood life to become a beautiful work of art through His loving touch. It might take some time, but it will be worth it, and He will be with you through the whole transformation!