An Afternoon with the Nephew

A cold winter day and a school holiday, too. The Nephew had more pent up energy than fit his mama's house. So I enjoyed the privilege of routine tasks with an oversize "Bee" droning randomly in the local airspace. And not always in the same room as the controller either, which made predicting one's next move a bit tricky.

Under the Nephew's delicate touch, the Bee landed on tight edges and ledges, often, I have to say, coming back to "base" tangled in spider webs. Great house cleaning assistance, this! He even managed a set-down on the ceiling fan!

Then the Trucker checked in and joined the fun from afar, issuing the challenge of landing on a moving ceiling fan...oh, this was too good to pass up. An hour of persistence later, mission accomplished! My only regret is that I missed filming the epic landing!

Some days it is possible to set aside the heaviness of life and enter into the joy of a child again....for just a while.

Bowing to Baa - ing and Baack

Thinking about Moses this morning. He had it made. He was heir to the throne. Then it all came down; he fled for his life. Ended up herding sheep, something no self respecting Egyptian would be caught dead doing. He went from receiving bows to baa's.

Did he sometimes wonder why he had fought so hard for life? In the wilderness, he was just existing. Nothing to look forward to, seemingly no purpose.

But when he came to the "Mountain of God" his life changed. A change he had not sought or expected.  In taking time to see the unexplained, he put himself in God's presence, and God met him there.

Moses never regained his status, never was the next Pharaoh that he had been groomed to become. His life continued to be one of humility, deprivation, and rejection. But millions down through the ages owe their lives to him. Many millions more have drawn strength and inspiration from his life story.

Because he put himself in God's presence. God was there always, but He did not call until Moses was willing to step aside to meet Him.

Stepping Out in Faith

Thinking of the apostle Peter today. He was totally sold out to Christ, and Christ was crucified. But he waited, and accepted the gift of the Holy Spirit. That day at the temple in Acts 3, he had no proof the lame man would be healed. But he spoke out in faith. 

What could he lose? Only his life.

When the curious crowd gathered, Peter again stepped out in faith, seized the opportunity to explain. But the explanation required calling out their sin. That took courage. 

Again, what could he lose? Only his life. 

After all, the Christ of Whom he spoke was crucified.

And those who yelled "Crucify Him," may well have been in the crowd on Solomon's porch, "greatly wondering."

I am challenged not to base my actions on the anticipated reaction of the "crowd", or on the security of knowing what will happen. Instead, my actions must be grounded in the One Who controls all things. My security must be in Him alone. 

What can I lose? Only my life.

Temporarily.