Once a Task is Thus Begun

Ephesians 6:7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

My Grandpa Etzler had a rhyme he would share with me and my cousins when we were little.  He said it so often that we engraved it on a gold plaque for him to hang in his bedroom and we buried it with him when he passed away.  It said:

Once a task is thus begun

Never leave it ‘til it’s done.

Be the task great or small

Do it well or not at all.

My grandpa was trying to teach us a level of work ethic that you don’t always see in today’s society.  The concept is real simple.  If you start something, finish it.  It doesn’t matter if it is a big project at work or a small project at home.  Finishing the project will give you a sense of accomplishment and will show others that you are proud of your work.  But grandpa didn’t just say finish it either, he said do it well or not at all.  Take the time to do it RIGHT.  Crease the edges.  Dot the I’s.  Cross the T’s. 

In Ephesians 6:7, Paul is also encouraging responsibility and integrity on the job just like my grandpa was.  If Christ was your employer, would that change the way you do your job?  Can you be trusted to do your best even when your boss is not around?  As Christians, we should strive to be a reflection of Jesus in everything we do, whether that is working at your career in the business world, cleaning houses, raising your children or ringing up customers at a grocery store.  You should do your job with enthusiasm as if Christ was your supervisor. 

Are you an employer?  Do you have people reporting to you at your place of employment?  What if Christ was your employee?  Would that change the way you treated your employees?  Although you may be at different levels than your employees in this earthly society, God does not play favorites.  No one is more important than anyone else.  We are all brothers and sister in Christ.

Remember, no matter who you work for and no matter who works for you, the One you should ultimately want to please is your Father in heaven.  So, work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.  Finish what you start and do it as though Christ is watching, because He is. 

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for providing me with a job.  Help me to work with enthusiasm and to finish what I start.  I want to make you proud of me.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Give it to God

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Oh my goodness, this is the hardest thing to do but the most amazing thing to do too.  Life can be crazy.  You know it.  I know it.  Today was my oldest son’s birthday and he invited 4 friends over for the weekend.  My youngest son had a basketball tournament this morning and he invited a friend to spend the weekend too.  My middle son called me while I was at the tournament to let me know he was going to a movie with a friend this afternoon and needed a ride.  I needed to get my nails done and my parents came in from Waxahachie to see the tournament and celebrate the birthday.  How on earth was I going to manage everything that was going on today AND write a devotional?

I could have stressed about it all day.  I could have gotten grumpy or short tempered with everyone.  But instead, I took a deep breath and I prayed about it.  I thanked God that I have a big, crazy family.  I thanked God for birthdays and friends and fun.  I thanked God that my children are healthy and love to play sports (because I love to watch them play) and I thanked God that my parents live close enough that they can come visit me and the boys any time.  I requested God’s presence in my day, then I used my God given talents of time management (ha ha) and we worked together to get everything done. 

You may think that a busy day is not the kind of request that Philippians 4:6 is talking about.  But it is.  It says not to be anxious about ANYTHING, but in EVERYTHING, present your requests to God.  Nothing is too small or too BIG to present to our Father in heaven.  He wants us to share everything with him that is bothering us and making us feel anxious.  So, present your sickness, present your financial burdens, present your broken relationships, present your doubts and fears, but present your busy day too.  Present your indecision about the paint color you are trying to choose.  Present the challenges of finding the right outfit for your next date.  Nothing is too trivial for our God.

Besides, it says in Matthew 6:27 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?”  So my advice to you is simple . . . Give it to God.  He is much better equipped to deal with the stress than I am.

Lord, thank you for loving me so much.  Help me to remember that you are my rock and strength and that you alone can carry all my burdens.  Amen.

Step Out of The Boat

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Matthew 14: 25-29 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.  “It is a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them, “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

I love the lake.  I love riding in a boat.  I love fishing.  I love swimming.  I love watching the sun set over the water and I love listening to the water lap against the shore in the morning with a cup of coffee.  Being at the lake is one of my favorite things to do.  I’ve been going to the lake with my family since I was a little girl and I am very comfortable there. 

Peter was very comfortable at the lake too.  He probably spent every day at the lake because he was a fisherman until Jesus came along.  So, in Matthew 14, when Peter found himself in a boat on the Sea of Galilee with his friends, he was not afraid.  He had been in a boat most of his life, so he was very comfortable there.  That is until he saw what he thought was a ghost, and then Peter was terrified.  He was trapped with no where to go.  The place where he felt safe one minute, was adding to his terror the next.

But then Jesus told him not to be afraid.  I like to think Jesus said something like, “Chill out guys.  It’s just me.  Jesus.  Stop freaking out.”  Peter wanted to believe that it was Jesus, but his faith was a little shaky.  Then Jesus said, “Come.”  So, Peter does something incredible.  He leaves the safety of the boat.  He leaves the place he is most comfortable, and he steps out of the boat into something brand new with Jesus. 

Jesus is calling you to something new too.  He wants you to leave the place that is comfortable and safe and step out into something brand new with him.   I know it is scary.  But will you have faith?  Will you step out of the boat?

Dear Lord, please give me the courage to step out of the boat in faith so that I can have something new with you.  Amen.

Dandelions

Psalms 46:5 God is within her; she will not fall.

I am the mother of 3 boys.  When they were little and all three would tackle me at the same time, I started telling them they needed to be careful with me because I was a delicate flower.  After a while, that became “my thing”.  I was known as the delicate flower.  Now, my boys always knew I was saying that kind of tongue-and-cheek.  Being a single mother, I could not afford to be delicate in any way.  In fact, I’m quite tough.  So today, whenever I say I’m a delicate flower, my middle son says, “No, you’re not.  You’re the Mominator.” 

Recently I read about a flower that reminded me of this contradiction . . . tough and delicate.  The flower is a dandelion.  Dandelions are resilient and can grow anywhere.  I read that they can even grow under a wall, but they will not grow straight under the weight of the wall.  Remove the wall and the dandelion will straighten up after a while.  Isn’t that the same with us?  The enemy will whisper lies to you about how you are alone and not loved.  He will tell you that you are not worthy of God’s love and forgiveness.  But we are like dandelions waiting to grow straight.  If you can identify the enemy and the wall he is trying to build in your life, you can tear it down and grow straight and tall towards salvation. 

Dandelions are also delicate and beautiful.  About a week after they bloom into a pretty yellow flower, the flower turns into a puff ball of seeds which are blown away by the wind.  People also love to pick dandelions, blow on them, and make a wish.  The seeds float through the air and land all over the world. That is what happens when you share God’s love.  You may never know exactly where the seeds will land or if they will take root and grow, but you should keep spreading them.

We should all have a little dandelion in us.  Tough as a weed against the enemy one moment and beautiful and delicate enough to spread God’s seeds of love across the earth the next.

Lord, thank you for creating the delicate but tough dandelion.  Help us to identify and remove the wall in our life so that we may grow straight and tall.  Encourage us to spread your love to all the earth. Amen