Category: Grace

  • Well Done Good and Faithful Servant

    Time is flying by, and that has me in a reflective mood this  morning.

    In three days, the days will be getting longer again. In seven, it’s Christmas already. In fourteen days, we will be in 2026.

    I remember being in high school and thinking how far away the turn of the century was. Now I hear kids talking about events of “the late 20th century,” and I realize I’m not even vintage anymore. I’m an antique.

    At a celebration for my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary, I remember thinking what a long time it had been since they were married. Now, in just over a year, Kathy and I will hit our 50th.

    Where did it all go? What was it all for? A lot of it was probably wasted, still. I hope that some of the time over the past 67 Christmases (68, in a week) will have been of eternal value.

    I still think of myself as a “new” believer, but in retrospect, I have been a believer for over three decades. Not all of that time was used wisely.

    Fortunately, the Lord loves me and forgives my shortcomings. No one has missed salvation because of anything I did or didn’t do.

    In Matthew 23, we read the parable of the talents. The master gives three men responsibility; two are faithful, and one is not.

    To the faithful servants, the master says, 

    “…‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” Matthew 23:21, 23

    I long to hear those words.

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted that despite everything, I will be allowed into the Master’s presence by His grace and mercy. That gift was granted to me by faith (and even the faith itself was a gift).

    I sometimes joke that I will be at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, but only to bus the tables. Yet, even that is far more than this sinful man deserves. I pray that you too will hear the words well done good and faithful servant.

    I know His love, patience, grace, mercy, and faithfulness are real. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind about that. 

    Yet, I cannot even begin to fathom the depths of those things. I’m grateful for them, even if I don’t fully comprehend.

    As we think of that helpless babe in a manger over the coming week, let’s take time to reflect on who He is and what He has done for us.

    He is the reason for and the joy of the season.

    Be blessed, 

    Kevin

    Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

    Some thoughts on living the Christian life

    Is it right belief or right living?

    Read the Word – that’s where you find the truth

    Called to right living

  • Small Blessings – Ordinary Life

    Audi key fob

    Someone once said that God must like ordinary things because  He made so many of them. There is some truth in that statement.

    It falls apart when we realize there are no “ordinary” things. Everything that exists in the material world is there because of the will of our omnipotent God. 

    We often look for God in the big things. While He does incredible miracles in the big stuff, you can frequently see His loving hand in the everyday things.

    Recently, the key fob for my car died. I tried replacing the battery several times to no avail. I called the dealer and was quoted $950 + tax to replace it. Ouch, that’s a thousand bucks I didn’t budget for.

    I tried local locksmiths. None of them could do a European fob, but I did get a recommendation for a mobile locksmith. I called the fellow and was quoted $550. Still ridiculously expensive, but my only option.

    He arrived and took the fob apart. I had been replacing it with the wrong battery. Those round button-type batteries come in varying thicknesses, and the ones I used were too thin. Cost $80 for the service call plus a battery.

    He could have just agreed the fob was dead, and I would have paid the $550 without question. God had sent a locksmith with integrity. Still costly for a simple mistake, but I gladly paid.

    Big blessing in ordinary life. When I shared that story with our community group a couple of weeks ago, many people also shared stories of big blessings in ordinary life.

    We might see a “big” miracle once or twice in our lifetime, but the small blessings come every day. Look for them. Celebrate them. Praise God for them.

    Small blessings happen even in tough times. Watching for them can make us grateful.

    Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever… Psalm 136:1-3

    Give thanks even for the small blessing and praise His name.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed, 

    Kevin

    Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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