When I checked my "stats" for this blog earlier today, I found that someone has accessed it 296 times. (Not the same someone, but a number of someones.) That is amazing to me. But even more mind-boggling is the information that those people reading this blog are to be found in the United States, Pakistan, Serbia, the United Kingdom, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, China, and even Germany. WOW!! That really blows my mind! I will probably never visit any of those foreign places, and the chances are even smaller that I will ever meet any of those people who have read my blog living in those places (at least not on this side of heaven). Regardless of my personal limitations, God has used this tool of the internet to speak to people on the opposite side of the world from where I dwell. I can only trust that in some way He has been able to bring a clear message to their hearts and encourage them as they seek to know the Truth.
Starting this blog was an act of faith and obedience. I shared in an earlier post that I am what some would refer to as "technologically challenged" (that "some" including myself), so it took great faith and a reliance on the skills of my daughter-in-love to even get started. It also took obedience, without concern as to what the results of that obedience would be.
My husband (Bob) and I enjoy riding on our Honda Gold Wing motorcycle. For those of you who have never experienced a motorcycle ride, may I tell you that there is a feeling of great exhilaration that comes from riding along with the wind in your face and the freedom to leave your cares behind for a few minutes or hours. It is addictive... once you've tasted that freedom you never want to let go. For me, especially, riding on the back of the motorcycle allows me to dream dreams, think big thoughts, and let go of those pressures of life that seem to hold me back all too often. In addition, I am able to do so without concern for controlling the bike. You see, I am completely confident in Bob's ability to control and steer that motorcycle wherever we choose to go together. I am at rest as I ride along enjoying all the beautiful scenery and the rush of adventure that surges through me, while Bob takes responsibility for keeping us safe and getting us to our destination. And so it is with life in Christ.
Joseph Prince, a well-known televangelist, pastor, and author has said it this way: "The world tells us, 'Don't just stand there, do something.' God tells us, 'Don't just do something, stand there.' " He goes on to say, "When we are busy, busy, busy working at something, God is at rest. But when we rest, God goes to work." Now, don't get me wrong (or Pastor Prince either, for that matter), I don't believe we are to "rest on our laurels" and never work at accomplishing anything, believing that God will miraculously intervene and take care of our every desire. What I do believe is that when we do our part and then rest on the knowledge that God will take care of what we cannot do for ourselves, He is faithful and trustworthy to step in on our behalf. God will always do for us what we are unable to do for ourselves, and He will always enable us to do those things to which He has called us.
I am not able to travel to Serbia, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, or any of the other places I listed earlier in this post (at least, not today). However, as I am faithful and obedient to do what God has asked me to do (in writing this blog and sharing that which He has given to me), my Lord will take care of seeing to it that the messages reach those who need to hear them. If God has used this blog to encourage you or reveal a word of Truth to you, I pray you will take a moment to share with me and with those others who also read it. I would proclaim, as the Apostle Paul did in Galatians 1:12, that the messages I have shared with you have not come from my own intelligence or power. Rather, "I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; but I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." To Him be the glory and credit now and for all eternity. In Him, it is truly "...a small world, after all."
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. ...Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
(Ephesians 3:14-17a, 20-21)
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