Held Together

“In him all things hold together.”  Colossians 1:17

If you ever fear the world is falling apart, let me assure you it is not but is bound securely by countless wires protruding from concrete columns in Central America. I know, for I spent most of last week clipping them off.

The setting was rural Guatemala.  The site was an orphanage under construction.  The hope as forty-seven folks from my church headed south for a Spring Break missions trip was that we would join in what God was doing and maybe make a difference.  Our prayer was for God to work through our hands and in our hearts.

To say He did so would be a glaring understatement.   

Because of our bountiful and diligent crew, construction progressed rapidly.  Some framed and filled columns—I cut wire.  Some mixed and poured concrete (bucket by bucket)—I cut wire.  Some leveled ground—I cut wire.  Some tested local water—I cut wire.  Some built block walls—I cut wire.  Some fixed lunch, taught children, encouraged moms, sang songs, played soccer, and preached sermons—I cut wire.  When I offered to join the other activities, my proposals were kindly rejected for my help was not needed.  (No comments regarding my skill set—or lack thereof—are necessary!)

It was actually most enjoyable! The others in our group had planned, prepared, and were now performing, and my only job was to do my simple job and simply be amazed—and not be in charge!  The days were filled with sun and sweat, but the satisfaction of rising walls, smooth sidewalks, and smiling children quickly soothed sore backs and weary muscles.  We were excited, content, and full of joy.

And then forty-seven became forty-six.  

None of us saw it coming—certainly not Dave’s doctor who had declared his heart “perfect” only a few weeks before, but in a moment, Dave’s chest tightened, his breathing shortened, and on his way to the hospital, God took him home.  

We were eating lunch when the final news arrived, and plates lay untouched as groups gathered in prayer.  We chose to continue the mission and held the closing VBS service only a few hours later.  With arms linked in love and support, twenty-two high school students walked down the mountain and sang the pre-planned song, “I’ll Fly Away,” for the congregation. In the midst of the turmoil, great peace hovered in our hearts, and a serene sense that this day had been planned from eternity reigned supreme.

The emerging details screamed God’s sovereignty. One of our group happened to be an EMT who responded immediately to the need.  All with us who were bi-lingual happened to be working at a different site, and the only available interpreter was from a college group which just happened to stop for the day.  She happened to be a nurse who works at the embassy and in just a few hours was able to complete paperwork which normally takes days or weeks.  The man who founded the ministry happened to be meeting with the best friend of the owner of Guatemala’s nicest funeral when the call came in, and within minutes, a hearse was on its way to pick up Dave’s body (which arrived back in the States before we did!) The college group who had happened to stop by was mostly “not-yet-Christians” who happened to then be stuck with us, so they happened to hear the great news of the blood-stained cross and the empty tomb at least five times that day as we surrounded them, included them, and shared with them personally and in the service the faith of Dave Gorte and the hope he—and we—have in Christ.  And the stories go on—too many to recount in this short account, but more than enough to assure and reassure that as Dave’s wife, Lynda, told me, “It’s all a tapestry, woven by God to show His glory and draw us close.”

Dave’s funeral starts in less than an hour.  Smiles will mix with sorrow and grief will blend with gladness as we celebrate a precious man and dear friend. He will be greatly missed, for he lived well and loved much. 

Before he left for Guatemala, Dave said this trip would change his life.  It really only changed his location, for here on earth and there in heaven, Dave’s true life—and the lives of all who know and love the Lord—are bound securely together by the unfailing love and forever grace of our infinite Savior. 

And that, thank God, can never be cut off!!

God Cares

“And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.”  Exodus 4:31

“Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen.  Nobody knows but Jesus.”  In our younger years, my sister and I often crooned this tune when our mom ruined a perfectly good Saturday with countless chores. Though mopping made us mournful and dusting caused distress, she did not seem the least bit moved by our misery, so we sang all the louder and took solace in the fact that at least heaven heard our cries.  And cared.

Now that I’m older, I’m not so sure house cleaning makes the list of life’s hardships, but lots of other legitimate trials and troubles do, and during those times it’s comforting to know that even if others don’t notice, God sees and God cares.  

Surely the Israelites wondered about this during the many years their bodies ached from the bitter labor of brickmaking, city building, and crop gathering.  Their freedom had been stolen through slavery by “Egyptians who worked them ruthlessly”(Ex 1:14), and their lives were harsh, hot, and hopeless.

Then Moses showed up with miracles and a message—God cares.  “And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped”(Ex 4:31).  With tears rolling down tired faces and calloused hands lifted high in praise, they knelt before the One who had seen every lash, heard every cry, noted every abuse, listened to every sigh—and cared.  “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him”(Nah 1:7).

Sometimes we take God’s care for granted and fail to be awed that the God who is so far above us is so concerned with us—“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?(Ps 8:4)—but more often we get so focused on our fretting that we forget the love of our Father and fail to take advantage of His open heart and strong arms—“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”(1 Pet 5:7).

Often it’s true that nobody but Jesus knows your troubles, but without doubt and with great delight you can be sure that He does.  Bow in worship.  Shout in praise.  The Almighty God cares for you and cares about you.  

Now that’s a tune we should croon with joy!

God's Got This

“Aaron is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you.”  Exodus 4:14

In spite of his staff turning from stick to snake back to staff, in spite of his hand being leprous and then not, in spite of the promise of God’s presence, play-by-play instructions, and divine security of success, Moses still balked at the bottom line.  He just didn’t want to go.  And he told God so.  “Then Moses said, ‘O Lord, please send someone else to do it’”(Ex 4:13).  

God was mad (justifiably so), but He showed great mercy (and patience) and made a provision.  “What about your brother, Aaron? I know he can speak well.  He is already on his way to meet you”(Ex 4:14).  Whoa and Wow!  God knew this would happen, and He already had it covered.   He knew that Moses would hem and haw and hesitate and try to hand the job off to someone else, so before He ignited the bush, God inspired the brother.  “Aaron is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you”(Ex 4:14).

Oh, the supremacy and sovereignty of God!!  He’s got this—this thing called life!  Nothing happens without His knowledge.  Nothing occurs without His consent.  He is not surprised by our hesitations, stunned by our refusals, or stumped by our concerns.  Our actions and reactions can never thwart His plan or His purpose, for He knows what we will say, what we will do, and what we simply won’t!  And in His great grace, He doesn’t give up on His own. 

To help Moses out, God already had Aaron on the way, and He gave the guarantee of continued guidance and support. “I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do”(Ex 4:15).  In all our circumstances of life—even those when we’re uncommitted or undecided, God graciously provides and patiently assures.

When you just don’t want to but know you should, rest assured that help is already on the way.  

God’s got this. 
Go with Him.

What's In Your Hand

“Then the Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’”  Exodus 4:1

In the midst of Moses’ excuses, God asked an interesting question—“What’s in your hand?” 

Moses knew the answer without even looking.  A staff.  An unexceptional, ordinary stick he picked up each morning as he headed out the tent to tend the herd.  But Moses was about to learn an important and life-changing lesson—what he saw as piece dead wood useful only for counting or coercing sheep, God saw as a snake-eating, river-splitting, water-gushing, battle-winning divine dowel.

For Moses to do God’s will, he didn’t need anything other than what he already had in his hand.  He just needed to use it as God said.

How inspiring and exciting!  Our God delights in taking ordinary, everyday stuff (people and their possessions) and transforming them for His will!   Who we are, what we have, and the opportunities before us today are meant to be part of something big! 

David held a slingshot, Esther held a doorknob, a widow held her flour jug, and a little boy held five loaves and two small fish.  Those might not seem like much, but as David whirled, Esther turned, the widow poured, and the little boy shared, a giant fell, a nation was spared, a family was saved, and a very large crowd had a very big lunch.

The same things will happen as we take what’s in our hands and trust them to our God.  You may be gripping a textbook or a telephone, a mixing spoon or a steering wheel, a writing pen or a power tool, but what you see as insignificant, God sees as divine instruments He can use to strengthen spirits, stir souls, display His power, and provide for His people. 

What you hold might not seem like much, but God can make it mighty.

What’s in your hand?