Mock On–Word Up Wednesday

08 May 2013 Leave a Comment

by whosthefarris in God's Word, Life Lessons, Word Up Wednesday Tags: , , , ,

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About a week ago, I came across one of those little passages of Scripture that kind of blow your socks off. You know what I mean? The kind of thing that makes you think, “How come I never knew that was there before?”

At first I just thought it was a bit humorous. Then, I felt like it–to a small degree–gave me license for sarcasm. But now I’m seeing there is some great truth in these little words. You’re dying to know what they are, aren’t you???

Well, here goes:
In Job 21:1-2 Job said these words to his friends.

“Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me. Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, Mock On!”

Ha! Mock on! Who knew? I have to tell you that I absolutely love that Job was so incredibly honest with his friends. “Hey, guys, just listen to me for a bit, that’s the least you can do as I sit here suffering and listening to you go on and on. Just be patient a few minutes and when I’m done, go back and mock me all you want.”

I seriously laughed when I realized Job said, “MOCK ON!”

Now, the more I’ve thought about his words, the more I realize how much I like this attitude. I mean, technically, we should expect to be mocked anyway. We shouldn’t care what others say. We should pretty much see it coming and even rejoice in it when it does. Instead, we tend to let it derail us when people oppose us–friend or foe. Yet, God has given us forewarning that this is how it will be for those who follow Him.

Matthew 5:11 says,

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven.”

And Matthew 10:34 reminds us:

“Don’t suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law–a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.”

So even from those closest to us, we can expect opposition. And because of Christ, we can say, “Mock on!” For it’s better to be mocked and be with Christ than to be find approval from others, yet be without Him.

The more I read, the more I understand how well Job knew that truth. Although Job had this paradox of understanding and lack of understanding all at the same time, he had great security in time of trouble because although he may have felt abandoned by God, he knew he wasn’t. Not only that, he knew that no matter what anyone said to him or about him, it couldn’t change one smackerel the things he knew to be true.

You may be facing some persecution today. Maybe someone is saying things that aren’t true, mocking your beliefs, or falsely accusing you of something. I hope you may take a little consolation in our friend, Job, and his now infamous, in my mind anyway, words–Mock On!

That’s the Word Up this Wednesday, May 8!

Hypersmash.com

What Are You Doing?–Word Up Wednesday

17 Apr 2013 Leave a Comment

by whosthefarris in Life Lessons, Word Up Wednesday Tags: , ,

vine and branches Recently I was asked this question, “So what are you doing right now in your ministry that can only be explained by God at work in you?” I gave the wrong answer. It was something like, well, ok, I don’t actually remember to be honest with you, but it was something about something we are doing in our ministry right now I’m sure.

But I know I gave the wrong answer because all week after I was asked that question, I felt the Holy Spirit prodding me with this question, “So is there anything you are doing right now that can’t be explained by God at work in you?”

In case you don’t see where this is going, God simply reminded me that there is nothing I am doing that I can take credit for. Nothing. I mean even the smallest things that I may be tempted to do in my own strength I can only do because of Him.

Teach a lesson on the fly. . . I can’t take credit for that.
Teach a lesson at all . . . I can’t take credit for that–I have no skills or training,
it’s just Him.
Come up with a creative idea . . . I can’t take credit for that. He’s the creative One.
Plan a great event . . . Nope. Not that either. Even what I may do through lessons
learned or past experience is because He gave me that experience.

The truth is that there is nothing I am doing, and nothing I can do that I can’t give Him the credit for. I am totally 100% dependant on Him to do what He wills in our ministry as long as I continue to seek Him, submit to Him, and acknowledge Him I know that He will continue to lead and direct us in that way.

Of course He already knew that. I did, too, I just I just forgot.

John 15:5
I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing.

So, What am I doing? I’m being thankful to be branching out!!
Word Up!

Scissors, Buckets, Grace–Word Up Wednesday

10 Apr 2013 Leave a Comment

by whosthefarris in Life Lessons, Word Up Wednesday Tags: , , ,

grace on green notepad2
God is so cool. He uses the most unexpected ways to get our attention. Apparently, He knew I needed a reminder in grace, and then felt Him urging me to write the lesson down so I wouldn’t forget it. I had the opportunity to share my experience in a column written by area clergy for our local paper, and I wanted to kind of “preserve” it here, too. Read on for what Paul Harvey would have called, “the rest of the story.”

“Last week our Wednesday night children’s program, KidZRocK was having some special Easter programming for the kids. A list maker at heart, I was busy jotting things down on my oversized neon green post it notes. My list included things like jelly beans, song list, bingo, jute rope, craft squares, glue, markers and eggs–lots and lots of egg!

Also on that list were the following three things: scissors, buckets, and grace. As I looked at my list I was a bit befuddled, “Grace? Grace?” What in the world was grace on the list for? As the “ah-ha” moment hit me, I realized “grace” was supposed to be “grass,” meaning the tote full of Easter grass I had for the buckets, which was, of course, for the eggs.

I had to laugh out loud at God’s awesome creativity in reminding me that in the midst of busy days filled with work, ministry, family and other life commitments that what I truly need on my to-do list every day is grace. Grace, that simple concept of treating others better than they deserve needs to be part of my day–every day. Surely, when planning an event, more than scissors, and more than buckets–more than anything else I may put on a list, I need grace, and I need to extend grace.

When Jesus went to the cross, and when He rose from the dead, conquering sin–my sin, He loved me and treated me better than I deserve. In fact, He treated me better than I can ever deserve. So now, as I live out my life with love and thankfulness to Him, I’m intentionally, rather than accidentally, adding grace to my list of to-do’s today and every day.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

By the way, I’m saving the note on that note pad, well, at least the picture. The buckets on the list serve as another reminder that God will always fill my buckets to overflowing as long as I offer them to Him, and I continue to pour out into others. The scissors remind me of the promise that there is nothing that can cut out God’s love for me, and the grass grace reminds me that I need to let God’s grace grow in me like grass-lush, think and lovely.

Buckets, Scissors, Grace–God’s promises–Word Up!

I Was Wrong–Tiny Tot Tuesday

09 Apr 2013 Leave a Comment

by whosthefarris in Life Lessons, Parenting, Tiny Tot Tuesday Tags: ,

I-was-wrong1

Okay, I admit! There were one or two things I did wrong while raising our boys. Okay, I admit it! There were probably more than one or two things I did wrong while raising our boys. In fact, I could probably start a whole new blog called, “Things I Did Wrong While Raising the Boys.” But I prefer to follow the apostle Paul’s advice and put the past behind me, and move on to what lies ahead.

Where’s this all coming from? Well, I’ve been thinking a bit lately about this whole “clean eating” thing that’s going around. In case you haven’t heard, “clean eating” is pretty much choosing to eat foods that aren’t processed. You pretty much just eat food in its natural form. Now, there are vegan clean eaters, and vegetarian clean eaters, there are 80-20 clean eaters, and I think there are cheater clean eaters–those who want to eat clean, but won’t give up the drive and their Oreos, yet. (But you don’t call it “cheating”; you call it “treating”.)

I’ve stepped through the clean eating door myself lately–those 3 months of being sick kind of got to me–and I realize that the move towards healthier foods really is a good thing. In fact, I realize that my approach to eating was one of convenience, which in the long run probably hasn’t turned out to be very convenient. And . . . . I think if I had to do it all over again, I would make more clean eating choices for my boys when they were still tiny tots.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a “thou shalt not eat ____________” kind of girl. Hello! My name is Dawn and I’m a recovering Pharisee. (I married into it–I am a Farris-u-see!) Through the years, another area I have to admit I was wrong about is legalism. I can jump in the all or nothing boat pretty quickly. I believe Christ died so I don’t have to be tied to legalism, in my eating or anything else. But I also know that we easily become conditioned to the things we are offered on a repeated basis, and I know that easy isn’t always better.

So as I offered the kids easy snacks, bags of chips, cookies, kid meals, and sugar, sugar, sugar, I was setting them up against better choices. Funny, how we are deceived to believe our kids won’t eat healthier foods, when up until 50-60 years ago, there really weren’t a lot of other choices, and somehow kids survived and thrived–without the health risks associated with young children today.

I am reminded that our bodies are temples of God, and wish I would have thought about that more when the boys were young. I wish I had thought more about showing them more of the good things that God created–there is more to this world that potatoes, corn, green beans and Oreo bon-bons!!

Eat-Clean

HOWEVER, even if I didn’t always do the best teaching them to love their vegestables, I did teach them to love. I’m learned some things along the way, too. I think that if you asked them they would tell you that I have done a pretty good job in that department–learning. I’ve learned to admit when I’m wrong, change some of my stubborn ways, and accept and try new things, and that’s a good thing.

So if you are reading this today and you are a mom raising some tiny tots, remember that you, too, are going to be wrong about some things–ok, many things. But you, as a mom, have the chance to teach your kids that we all fail, we all make mistakes–many times much bigger than what we are putting on the table. But that we can learn from mistakes, we can humble ourselves, we can admit when we are wrong and we can begin to do what is right, and that’s a good thing!

Our kids will model much of what they see in us, whether it’s what we are taking in or what we are pouring out. If we need to change, we need to change. If we need to admit we were wrong, well, then we need to say it. C’mon, say it with me. . . .don’t resist. It will be okay, it’s actually kind of freeing. Here we go. . . “I was wr…wro…wron…wrong!”

?????????????

Oh! That’s better!! You know one of the best things about admitting you’re wrong? In simply doing it, you are now right!! Just don’t get all big headed about it, or you would be back to being wrong again.

Anyhow. . . Happy Humility! I hope you can find some time enjoy some healthy eating and healthy habits with your tiny tots today!

I Can’t Drive 55–Take a Seat Saturday

06 Apr 2013 Leave a Comment

by whosthefarris in Life Lessons, Take a Seat Saturday Tags: , , ,

I can't drive 55

Sammy Hagar was wrong. There ya go, I said it. The Red Rocker could, indeed, drive 55. He just didn’t want to.

Realizing that Saturday’s blog posts on rest are the posts I most often avoid writing made me stop and ask myself why. One reason, most certainly, is I am not good at resting. I am a doer. There ya go, I said it. The other main reason is that I have given into Sammy’s idea of “I just can’t,” when the truth is I just don’t want to.

“I just can’t rest. There’s too much to do.” Oh brother, what a lie. And just like Sammy could drive 55–it did take him 16 hours to get L.A. by the end of the song (I know some of you will be looking up his video just for old time’s sake), I, too, can learn to slow down. Praisallujah! You can, too.

Actually I’ve been doing a much better job at slowing down–that’s what 3 1/2 months of sinus infection will do to a girl! But outside of an inconvenient sickness, I am learning to make choices that are helping me to slow down, invest more in others and learn to appreciate more some of the things I had been missing in my busy lifestyle.

A few things needed to go missing though. I realized as I watched the Sammy Hagar video that a nonstop lifestyle often breeds other things like pride, rebellion and disrespect. Things I would never have thought characterized me, yet when I think about it probably were a part of my overly busy life. It’s time to put off those old habits and put on some humility, submission, and respect.

I can’t say it’s an easy thing I’m learning. BUT, and this is a big but, it’s the right thing I’m learning. It’s time for me to stop stealing someone else joy by doing things they might want to do. It’s time for me to stop serving my time leftovers to my husband. It’s time for me to invest in people more than projects.
It’s time for me to quit saying “I’m tired” or “I can’t. I already have another commitment.” It’s time for me to start submitting to God and His ways which are always best and right.

Sometimes those plans will still mean long hours and hard work. But sometimes those plans mean saying “no” to something good, and “yes” to quieting myself and my home and even my work time to rest in Him, hearing His voice and enjoying His presence.

Although Sammy Hagar and the boys in the band had to learn the hard way that they could drive 55, I’d rather learn God’s way that I can, should and will take time to rest, being still and knowing that He is God.

Power of God–Thankful Thursday

14 Mar 2013 2 Comments

by whosthefarris in Life Lessons, Thankful Thursday Tags: , ,

power-3354
This one may be too simple, but I hate to overlook it. Usually on Thursday I share a resource or ministry I am thankful for, but today I’ve just been thinking a lot about how thankful I am for the power of God at work in my life. I learned like the Psalmist in Psalm 119:71, that:

“It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn from your decrees.”

This winter, I have been sick a lot. Not fluish, puking, on my death bed sick. But virus-y, sinus-y, draggin’ my bones out of bed sick. For about the past 3 months, I’ve had a sinus infection I haven’t been able to beat (and yes, I have tried it all), finding some greater relief in the past couple of days. (Yea! Jesus and steroid packs!)

No joke. During this time I have been on several meds, along with vitamins and a little more rest than normal, I know without a doubt that it has been the power of God that has been sustaining me and is healing me.

Not only is His power healing me, it’s also through His power that God is humbling me, helping me to see Him in new ways. This weekend I was thinking of the verse in Psalm 20:7 that says,

“Some trust in chariots, some trust in horses, but as for us, we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

I realized that my modern day version may have needed to be:

“Some trust in Zpack, some trust in netty pots, but as for me, I will trust in the name of the Lord my God.”

Don’t get me wrong. Like I said, I took the Zpack–several times. I used that disgusting nasal rinser thingy. (Great day! I suppose it helps, but really? It’s just digusting!)  Those things have helped, some, and I have no problem accepting help from my doctor or the local pharmaceutical industry. But in the day to day, when there was still a relationship with God to tend to, a husband to love and care for, a home to look after, a son getting engaged, and ministry to be done, I was reminded again that it has been and it should always be the power of God giving me the strength–even in my fatigue–to press on. My pace may have been a bit slower, and I may have had to say no to a couple of things. But God’s power at work in me allowed me the wisdom to know what to say “yes” to and what to say “no” to, and the strength to fulfill the tasks He has called me to.

His power has humbled me. I seriously am not a getting sick kind of girl, and had a bit of a hard time accepting this season of sinus in my life. I’ve just never not been able to beat something before.  But this time has allowed me to learn to ask for help. It’s helped me to learn to separate the good from the best a bit more. His power has increased my compassion for those fighting long term illnesses of varying degrees a bit more, and it has reminded me that sometimes when I feel like giving up and crashing on the couch, His power is what I need to continue on for the sake of the Gospel. (And yes, it has also taught me that sometimes you just need to go crash on the couch.)

Our church will be beginning a week of revival in a few days. It’s a great, yet demanding week. We hold a special children’s revival, and I know that it’s demanding on our kids,  their families, and the team that ministers with them. But I also know that this same power of God I have been experiencing day after day throughout my life is going to continue to sustain us through the coming week as we come to share the gospel, as we come to hear the gospel, as we invite friends to join in the gospel and as we see God at work in His most awesome power.

So as I think back over the past couple of months and I think about the weeks and  months to come, I am overwhelmingly thankful for the power of God which strengthens us,  saves us, sanctifies us and sustains us today and every day until He returns for us.

Leftovers–Taste and See Sunday

24 Feb 2013 Leave a Comment

by whosthefarris in Life Lessons, Spiritual Growth, Taste and See Sunday Tags: ,

leftovers2

There’s a lesson in leftovers. In our home there are two ways to serve leftovers. One is like today, planned. Knowing that we have some things left over from the week’s previous meals, we select the best of our favorites from what has already been served, and we feast. After all, we don’t want to be wasteful and although it may not be the best, it’s good enough! Today was chili bratwurst dogs!

The other is way we serve leftovers is a little more unplanned. Those are the days where things get away from me. The great meal I planned to bless my dear husband with gets shoved aside for an extra meeting, lunch with a friend, or unexpected phone calls. So I dig and scrounge through the fridge and cabinets in order to find something to throw together and call supper. It’s probably not the freshest or the best, it’s just what it is–good enough.

My husband is a pretty understanding guy, and I have never once heard him complain about either method of serving leftovers. (Although he calls them “scraps”) But it doesn’t take long for me to be on the lookout for how often those kinds of days are occurring. Because I have learned that when I am regularly serving Tim the “scrounge around food” leftovers, I may also be serving him time leftovers, listening leftovers, and love leftovers. What that means to me is that things are out of balance and I’m not giving the man I love what he is worthy of.

But it’s more than just what I serve my husband, because Tim isn’t the only one who can wind up getting what’s left over from me.

If I’m not careful I can wind up doing what Francis Chan calls, “Serving leftovers to a holy God.” I need to be aware of my priorities, my time, my choices, my offerings and ultimately my heart in order to keep the main things the main things and to be sure that God retains his 1st place status, and that I am offering Him all that He is worthy of and not just “good enough”.

In Malachi God calls those who offer these inadequate offerings cheats. Cheats! And He asks where the respect is in the offerings brought to Him.

“When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the Lord. “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.” Malachi 1:13-14

We can be guilty of the same thing, excusing our behavior as an accident or backsliding or opportunity or a busy schedule or we might not even realize we are doing it. But if we are indeed offering God what is leftover, it’s imperative that we recognize, repent, and reprioritize so that God can restore us and resume 1st place again. When God is truly 1st place, the things we offer Him will be worthy of the God He is because of our love for Him.

So today is again, for me, one of those days when I take stock of what I’ve been offering God to make sure that He is getting the best all the time, and not just what is leftover. It is clear that what is “good enough” for Jehovah God is always what is best.

Rest is Not a 4-Letter Word: Take a Seat Saturday

02 Feb 2013 Leave a Comment

by whosthefarris in Kidmin, Life Lessons, Take a Seat Saturday Tags:

slow downRest is not a 4-letter word. Okay, maybe it is. But not the “bad kind” of 4 letter word, although it feels like it sometimes. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a little problem with slowing down. I’ve been working on it for a couple of years now. Trying to incorporate the oh-so-important day off into my schedule is a task I have yet to master. But I am working on it. My head understands all the reasons why I should, but my heart just doesn’t always get it. My passions for ministry and family often take over what should be my passion for obedience, wisdom, and setting an example.

I remember when the boys were little. Sometimes they would be so tired, but they just wouldn’t give in to sleep. I can remember saying to myself and to them, “Don’t fight it. Just let yourself sleep.” So many of us live in the same manner. We are tired, but we fight rest. In our confused state we forget that the God who served up a loaves and fish lunch to thousands can handle anything we have on our calendars. In the coming weeks, I hope to share some insights into why we fight rest and what we can do to help let ourselves surrender to it, and the One who created it. He has called us to rest. The first key for me in deciding to make changes in this area is based on this one simple truth: God said to. That should have been enough for me. But this is an area my flesh and spirit, and maybe yours, fight daily. My pride, my insecurity, my stubborness, and my inability to trust God to take care of the demands of the day cause me to stumble back in to the trap of the evil one in this sensitive area of my life.

The first key for me in deciding to make changes in this area is this one simple truth: God said to.

There have been times as a parent when my sole response to our children has been, “Because I’m the mom, and I said so.” I always thought I would never say those words, but I learned that sometimes they can have great impact. For our authority as parents was designed to have that kind of weight. In other words, at times, it’s necessary to simply say that because of my authority in the home, this is what we are doing. I know what is best and it is what I have decided.

God, as the ultimate authority and ultimate parent, also has the final word. Which is why, for me, before my heart could fully grasp the importance of rest, my head had to be willing to understand that I have to slow down, because God said so, and He’s God, and that’s reason enough to do what He has asked.

It’s a little funny that I have declared Saturday’s posts as “Take a Seat Saturday” because at the church where I serve, I have to go in on Saturdays and work. But it’s not about the day you rest, it’s that you take a day to rest, and my current day of rest is Friday.

Whether this is something you struggle with or have mastered, I’d love to hear your thoughts. ‘Til then. . . take a seat, and happy resting!

Don’t Abandon Ship, Yet–Word Up Wednesday

30 Jan 2013 Leave a Comment

by whosthefarris in Kidmin, Life Lessons, Word Up Wednesday Tags: ,

shipwreckEver feel like your ship is sinking? You can see things aren’t going well, and you all of the sudden have the “every man for himself” urge to hurl yourself overboard or grab the closest lifeboat. I suppose most of us have felt that way at one time or another. Even in the Bible. In fact, the Bible tells us about a few guys who literally tried to abandon ship, and there are a couple of interesting things we can learn to help us overcome when we feel like going overboard.

In Acts 27 we read the account of Paul’s shipwreck adventure. Round about verse 27 we see that the ship’s crew sensed they were approaching land. They began to measure the depth of the water and feared that they would be dashed against the rocks, facing certain death. So they dropped anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. (I’ve always wondered who they were praying to, and why they didn’t pray for the storm to stop). Perhaps, they decided they weren’t going to make it until daylight, so in an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors pretended they were going to let down anchors from the bow planning to make a quick getaway thinking no one would notice. I don’t think they were very subtle when they did this, though. . .

Because it’s pretty obvious everyone noticed when Paul said to the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” (Strong motivation to keep them on the ship). So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away. Booyah! Sailors stay on ship! Well, at least for a while longer.

Not much later in the story–everyone leaves the ship–well, they didn’t really have much choice since the ship was being pummeled to destruction by the waves. Some had to jump and swim to shore; others used planks or pieces of the ship in order for everyone to reach land safely. So even though it was necessary at this point to leave, we see that it was best for everyone if they stayed longer than they felt comfortable. They needed to weather out the storm with the others on the boat rather than selfishly think of themselves and their own self preservation.

Now let me say straight up, there may be times to abandon a ship. But there are many, many other times when we need to stay and weather the storm.

But what do you do then when everything in you says get off the boat?

You pray–and not just for yourself, but for those who are also being impacted by the circumstances–nothing just affects you
You consider others above yourself
You fight the feeling so that you can think with reason about what is going on
You don’t sneak off and you don’t be deceitful.
You don’t just leave others to die
You trust God to see you through
You don’t go until He says it’s time

In families, in work places, in marriages and in ministries great damage is being done because we become so afraid and overwhelmed that we see escape as the only option, even to the point of hanging others out to dry. We have tossed honor, faithfulness, and commitment overboard for immediately gratification and perceived safety and relief. Just like God saw Paul, the crew, the guards and the other prisoners through to safety, as we trust Him, wait on Him, and follow His instructions, we can see His deliverance first hand in our lives as well. (Kind of reminds me of the verse from yesterday’s post. . . )

Isaiah 40:31 “They that wait upon the Lord, will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint.”

and

Isaiah 43:2a “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”

I pray that your days are filled with smooth sailing, and that if the storms come, and you want to jump ship, that you will have the courage, trust and wisdom to follow God’s direction and timing every step of the way.

This Just In

26 Jan 2013 Leave a Comment

by whosthefarris in Life Lessons Tags: , , ,

buck denverBuck Denver, man of news, comes into our children’s church classes each week to share the good news of Jesus. Created by Veggie Tales founder, Phil Vischer, Buck, is part of a team of characters who are helping kids see the big picture of God, His Word and His salvation story.

Yesterday, I spent most of the day at a Children’s Ministry Expo in St Louis with my friend, Deb. It really was a great day and I “gleaned” some valuable things from several of the presenters. (I’m very into “gleaning” these days–no doubt because I’ve been teaching about Ruth!) But I digress! No doubt, however, the highlight of my day was the chance to hear Phil Vischer speak.

As I shared above, you may know Phil Vischer as the man behind Veggie Tales, and he shared with us that perhaps that was part of the problem and the reason for the downfall of the Veggie Empire. Although Big Idea was doing great things for God, they may not have been doing the great things of God.

Vischer said that the organization continued to move on doing good things by making the videos, but often went into greater endeavors anticipating God to bless because they were doing these good things. But God didn’t. He shared these couple of things that resonated in my heart.

1) In the Bible, when God’s people didn’t know what to do, they waited. They sought God until He told them what to do. They didn’t just keep going waiting for God to show up. We on the other hand, tend to just work harder and longer to the point of burnout seeing worldly success as the goal.

2) God didn’t let Vischer’s dreams fall apart because He didn’t love him.  He let them fall apart because He loved him. We often get that backwards because the dream becomes bigger than the One who gave us the ability to dream.

3) God doesn’t deal in quantity. He deals in obedience. Bigger isn’t always better. Obedience is always better.

4) Our ministries don’t come from programs and events and plans. Our ministries come from the love of God in us pouring out and splashing onto those we minister to. You can say that again.

4) Our ministries don’t come from programs and events and plans. Our ministries come from the love of God in us pouring out and splashing onto those we minister to.

So Phil Vischer took some time, waited on God, refilled his life with the love of God and is allowing God to be the One behind Buck Denver and the crew at What’s in the Bible– A fantabulous set of videos and church curriculum that does more than entertain, it teaches the who, what, where, when, why and hows of the Bible and what God’s big plan of redemption means for the people He loves.

And so, while Phil Vischer continues to use his gifts, talents and skills for the King and the Kingdom, he appears to be doing those things a little differently these days. I, for one, was encouraged by the late breaking news he brought to St. Louis yesterday.

If you want to read more, why not check out his book, Me Myself and Bob A True Story About Dreams, God and Talking Vegetables.

me myself and Bob

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