"be helpful"

Sunday, May 19, 2019 (7:57 a.m.)

Oh Most Wonderful Savior,

There’s a song there. I just don’t know what it is. It has something to do with the color of eyes. And a uniquely descriptive word.

Anyway… I want to thank You Father. Yes! Thank You for the opportunity to be helpful.

Oh, and now… TEARS! So many free flowing tears!

And it all comes back to being helpful. A news story of one dad stepping in for another. Thank You God. Isn’t that how You raised us?

Hmm… yeah. You taught us to love one another (John 13:34). Treat others the way we want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). Oh praise You Jesus!

Yesterday we were blessed by an exceptional experience with higher learning. A graduation. Confirming of degrees. And a call to be of service.

Thank You Father for the genuine thrill of putting that call into action. The chance to be helpful. By doing another’s laundry. A true joy. Thank You God.

Thank You too for the privilege of being with friends and family yesterday as we wholeheartedly celebrated the success of a much loved one. Thank You for his appreciation of those who walked with him through all the hard work that got him there. What a shining example for his children.

How interesting that the verses I came across just now are descriptive of this very fine young man as well. Titus 1:5-9. The apostle Paul wrote “to encourage Titus [a young minister] to be faithful in applying the grace of God to various circumstance” (The Life Recovery Bible).

Grace being another one of the things this bonus son You have provided has been teaching us by his own example. Thank You Father.

And here come the tears again. Taken from New International Reader's Version, “[A Good Grip on the Message]… Appoint leaders in every town according to my instructions. As you select them, ask, ‘Is this man well-thought-of? Is he committed to his wife? Are his children believers? Do they respect him and stay out of trouble?’ It’s important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God’s house, be looked up to - not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry. He must welcome people, be helpful, wise, fair, have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.”

Father how blessed are we to have such personal experience with a follower of Yours who checks so many of those boxes. Thank You Lord.

Here I ask that You would continue Your blessing and keeping of us. Smiling on and being gracious to us. Looking on us with Your favor and giving us Your peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

How we love You Father and ask these things in Your Son’s most Holy Name. Use us exactly as You know is best. Empowering and enabling us in being helpful. Thank You, Lord. We love You. Amen.

(514 words ~ 10:25 a.m.)