Tag: Christianity

Least Likely

~ jesusluvsall ~ 23 Comments

If anyone were to look at my high school year book and talk with people who knew me when I was a teen, instead of most likely to succeed, they would hear something else. Especially if you were to tell them that I have a ministry for refugees/immigrants and teach for a college. They would have said I was least likely of everyone they knew to become a home missionary/teacher.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Least likely explains how other perhaps viewed me at other points in life even after coming to know Jesus. My first ministry trip to Romania, the missionaries we went to serve with had their doubts because they remembered me from a few years before when due to being sick, I was the guy who talked slowly. They would have said I was least likely to used by God in Romania. Yet eight years later, I went twice in one year to preach the Easter and Christmas services for the church my church partnered with there.

Least likely explains how many thought when God led me to start a ministry of reaching out to refugees/immigrants in my city. When God led me to start a Saturday morning group, there were many doubters. But God worked and a few years later people were sharing their thoughts that I should stay in my city because of the ministry Jesus led me to.

There are so many other examples from my life of when I was what others thought was least likely. There is much to learn from a classic least likely in the bible.We read about it in 1st Samuel 16. God sent the prophet Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be king to replace Saul. When Samuel thought it would be Eliab because he looked the part, God told Samuel in verse seven:

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

God led Samuel to David, a shepherd boy tending his father Jesse’s sheep, to anoint David. God chose David because he saw David’s heart. He saw David trust in him protecting the sheep. He saw David’s penchant for singing to the Lord. Everyone else would have thought David was least likely, but not God.

I love the saying that God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

My Unexpected Test This Morning

~ jesusluvsall ~ 11 Comments

I had planned a different post for today but one phone call changed that. My cardiologist wants me to have a test before the ablation procedure. The hospital called to schedule the test. The woman I talked with suggested having it this morning, so at 9:30 off I go.

Getting to the heart of the issue, sorry couldn’t resist the pun, we are all on a temporary basis in this life. The urgent issue is whether we are reconciled with God. Have we come to Jesus?

The verse of the day on Bible Gateway yesterday was fitting. I had read it before the phone call. It was from John 14:1-3:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Jesus has a place for me in heaven already because of his grace, not because of me.

I am confident I will be around for a while longer in this life and that Jesus has much for me to do yet, but knowing Jesus has a place for us is most comforting when life throws the unexpected at us.As I thought about that truth, I remembered a song from long ago called Mansion Builder after the phone call. I am sharing it today.

My post I had planned on for today will wait for tomorrow.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.

The Generosity of Others Opened Up Her Music

~ jesusluvsall ~ 20 Comments

In October, I felt led to take a step of faith after hearing about my young musician friend from Ukraine having to leave her violin behind. I shared about it in The Look On Her Face-Priceless in October and arranging for my friend from the Lincoln Youth Symphony to loan her a violin. When he came to my classroom to bring her the violin, I could see the oppression leave her. Her countenance changed and has stayed that way.

Part of that step of faith was trusting God to provide the money to pay my friend for the violin. I am thrilled to share all the money needed came in thanks to generous brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to share with you a picture from the Youth Christmas Program at the Ukrainian Church. My young friend, Ester, had the lead role in it. She sang some solos and was the lead in the play. It was all in Ukrainian but I got the gist of it. She is the one in the white coat center stage.

Since that day that Ester received the violin, she has been playing both the violin and piano again and singing in her church. She has also helped children. The program Sunday evening was recorded and is being shared with Ukrainians all over.

The impact of the kindness and generosity of brother and sisters in Christ that she probably will not meet until we are all in heaven will be felt by many for years to come.

Thank you to all of my generous friends!!!

Thank you for reading. God Bless.