God only needs 10 seconds

A long visit.

I was sitting recently on a screened in porch visiting a dear friend. We were catching each other up on our complicated lives after not seeing each other for quite some time. Our conversation was punctuated by my friend checking periodically on dinner in the oven. She was expecting her husband and father-in-law to arrive home shortly to eat. We chatted happily as I nibbled on some homemade goodies — her famous molasses cookies and and some delectable cheese biscuits — while washing them down with ice water served in a cute mason jar.

Dinner is ready!

The oven timer finally announced dinner was ready with a characteristic “ding” just as a car pulled into the driveway delivering the dinner guests. My friend and I started wrapping up our visit. I grabbed one more cheese biscuit for the road and took one last sip of ice water.

Ten seconds

Just as I was preparing to stand up, the husband popped in to say hello from the french doors that lead to the porch. He started spoke first with a cheerful hello!

“Hello,” I responded, still trying to swallow the last of my biscuit and water. I continued. “I was just enjoying one last treat that your mom made…I mean that your wife made.” (embarrassing) Then I tried to stand up from the rocking chair I had been sitting in for an hour. Each time I braced my legs against the chair to stand up, it tilted backwards. (embarrassing) Because I was having difficulty getting out of the rocker, I leaned forward at an extreme angle on my third and final attempt. In my effort, my lips parted and a single drop of drool slipped out of my mouth onto the table next to the plate of remaining treats. (embarrassing)

Ten seconds

I bravely exchanged pleasantries on the way out of their home, gave hugs and smiles, then went to my car and sat for a moment. Ten seconds is all it took for God to remind me that I can do nothing without  Him, I can’t make anything turn out well, and I have no control over my life. Not really. I might be able to control my behavior but never the results.

Never the results

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. (John 15:5)

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. (1Corinthians 3:6)

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. (James 4:13-16)

If any of us begin to believe we have any power or control apart from Christ, all God needs is 10 seconds to cut us down to size.

Ten seconds

Picture Explanation: We are so small. Mere shadows.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)

Speaking of living life in Christ’s strength instead of ours: If you are interested in being contacted to participate in a One Gritty Blink Bible study, click on the Oaks Ministries link below and send me an email so I can place you on a list to be contacted as online and face-to-face studies are planned. Let’s not just focus on things in this short life, but also what counts for eternity!

Note: No part of my posts are derived from A.I. Thoughts and writing stem from my mind and heart as I process life week-by-week and continue to grow in my understanding of God and how to apply His wisdom to the world around me.

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