However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. – Acts 20:24
The apostle Paul was roaming the country teaching people about Christ. In some places, he was greatly effective, but not without resistance. He begins to take stock of his life and what it means to him. His life? Worthless. His only concern was the mission that God had given him: to tell others about God’s kindness. Compared to the mission, his life was worthless.
How can I even compare to this? I think my life is of great value. I try to protect my life. I exercise, wear a seatbelt, don’t wrassel snakes. My life is worth something to me. But am I hanging on to my life more than I am hanging on to the mission of Christ? Is my comfort more important than his cause? My security a greater value than his mission? I fear that it is.
Here is a look at the line up from exchange, our weekly worship gathering at Maryland Community Church.
iPod
1. Awesome is the Lord Most High
Greet
Welcome/ann/prayer – Shawn
Community #1 – Scot
interview with Shawn
Scot continues
1. How Great Thou Art
2. You’ve Won My Affection
3. Nothing without You
4. Wonderful Cross
5. joyous Light (Hail Gladdening)
6. Majesty
7. O Praise Him
8. Blessed Be Your Name
Dismissal – Scot
Band instrumental
iPod
New song for the night was “Awesome is the Lord Most High”, from Tomlin’s new album. “You’ve Won my Affection” is an older song, but we just picked it up. Such a beautiful piece.
I left the evening not feeling I had really allowed things to flow smoothly. The teaching was a bit jerky and the songs didn’t flow as well as I would like. Nothing that the band did, I think it was some song selection. We did not do “How Great Thou Art.” We simply ran out of time in rehearsal. I hated to toss it as it is such a great classic hymn. We need to do more hymns for sure.
1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7So the word of God spread. – Acts 6:1-7
“I’m just tired of doing things half-way. People that would not normally irritate me are getting on my nerves. I am saying yes to everything”
I had a conversation last night with a friend. She is a giver. Problem is, she gives so much and can do so much that she is wearing out. I can identify.
The disciples found themselves in the same situation. They were trying to meet the needs of everyone. Instead of doing some things well, they were doing everything half-way, and the kingdom was limping.
I am intrigued by verse 7. “So the word of God spread.” The result of what the disciples did helped the word to spread. I am all about the kingdom growing. What did they do to aid the growth? Less.
They did less.
By doing less they did . . . more.
The tooth fairy. Real? As Mariah was growing out of the tooth fairy stage I would give her special gifts. She would put a tooth under her pillow. In the middle of the night I would take the tooth and replace it with a can of green beans. Another tooth and the prize was a block of Velveeta cheese. It was a gentle way to break the news. Better than “Hey, hate to tell you but the tooth fairy is fake. Deal with it”
Enter Madison.
Madison is turning eight next month. She has been loosing teeth and has been putting them under her pillow. A little money here and there. She has been diligent with the system. If she lost a tooth and couldn’t find it, she put a note under her pillow. A couple times we would forget that she put the tooth (or note) under her pillow. Drama the next morning. The usual result was a monetary bonus from the forgetful tooth fairy. Steph and I thought she was a little old, but you hate to see your youngest grow out of this stage.
She lost another tooth Friday. She put it under her pillow Saturday night. The tooth fairy gave her $1 and a bottle of salad dressing from the pantry. Time to break it to her easy.
Tonight (Sunday) as I was putting her to bed, she said, “Dad, do you know what the tooth fairy gave me?”
I felt that it was time to come clean. Time to move my daughter from the world of little girl to young lady. The truth is sometimes painful, but necessary. My baby is growing up. She needs to know that life is not all fairy tales. I had to be the Dad.