Trouble in Paradise: Sink or Swim

"Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. . . . The islanders showed us unusual kindness. . . .“This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” . . .  they changed their minds and said he was a god." Acts 28: 1-10

Beach on the Island of Malta

     Paul and the crew sailing to Italy had just survived shipwreck, washing ashore on the Island of Malta.  Ahhh, solid ground! Kind islanders! A bonfire! 

     Always one to pitch in and do his part, Paul grabbed a pile of brushwood and dropped it on the growing fire.  A sudden pain gripped Paul's hand. He probably thought a spark from the fire had landed on him, but looked down to see a poisonous snake latched on tightly and dangling from his hand.  

     The Islanders also saw the snake attached to Paul and the speculation and gossip started:

Hmmm. - He survived a shipwreck to be attacked by a poisonous snake?
Hmmm. - He's one of the prisoners from the ship, right? What did he do?
Hmmm. - Must've been bad - like murder!
Hmmm. - Justice says it's payback time.

     Then, Paul shook the snake off of his hand and into the fire to sizzle. 

Hmmm. - He's still walking.
Hmmm. - His color's good.
Hmmm. - No swelling. No blistering. Nothing unusual about his hand.

       *Crickets     *Crackling fire    *Campground songs

Hmmm. - He must be a god to survive both the storm and the snake!

       It's human nature to either vilify or deify people, but no one quite knew what to do with Paul.  He prophesied terrible storms and he was right.  He said "I told you not to sail now," but then shared his faith in God's goodness to encourage hopeless people on a beleaguered ship.  He shared visions of angels and God's promises, and the people lived on those promises for days. He was bitten by a poisonous snake, but shook it off and refused to die. Villain or god?  Neither. Rather, a man of God.

    The literal storms and snakes in Paul's life could have left him faith-shaken; instead, he shook them off and left deep tracks on sandy Malta beaches, turning the hearts of a people from false fertility gods to the One True God. ( http://www.malta.com/en/about-malta/culture/religion-in-malta)
     As Paul swallowed salt water and fought to stay afloat, he shouted encouragement and buoyed his fellow passengers.  Rather than allowing the snake to paralyze him in fear, he fried the poisonous thing. He, a prisoner, prayed for a bed-ridden Islander and God used him to heal all the sick people on the island.  In the middle of snakes and storms, he turned from his own perilous situations to impact a culture with his powerful faith in God. 

Dear Father,  We're so easily discouraged by storms and snakes, but we want to be like Paul - looking out for others and helping them latch onto You.  Give us faith where we lack it.  Increase our compassion. May Your Presence weigh heavily in us so our footprints lead them to You.
In the Name of the Only True Savior, Jesus!

In the Right Hands

"LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay. You are the potter.

Your hands made all of us."

Isaiah 64:8



Just because it's in calligraphy
doesn't mean it's important.
Just because we feel ordinary
doesn't mean we're less important



     From the time I had two quarters jangling in my pocket, I've invested in paper and writing implements. Woolworth's was my favorite place to shop for little notebooks, sketch pads, stationery, pencils, pens, markers, etc.  With paper always at hand, I dreamed of filling at least a notebook, and maybe one day a book cover, with meaningful words strung together in meaningful expressions which would meld into a memorable experience for me and for readers. Whenever writer's block hit, I'd change pen colors because purple might say it better, or gold metallic would get attention and respect.  When I didn't have content, I used calligraphy to proclaim less important ideas with a flourish. 

   However, most real work requires less flourish and more function.  For instance, my job teaches me that justice could hardly be dispensed without sticky notes, staples and blue ink pens. A clear, legible print is preferable to calligraphy.  Cases wouldn't, couldn't be scheduled without a simple calendar, and where would I be without whiteout?  The little container on my desk keeps all these "ordinary" tools available for the opportune moment. In other words, I don't keep parchment paper and calligraphy pens in my office since sticky notes and ball points get the job done better.   



The real tools of justice!



     Is that why God made us from clay - squishy, flawed, muddy, wet, messy everyday clay? He makes an orinary, common substance extraordinarly useful by His power. Feeling more like a Post-it than parchment? God's purposes mean we're valuable and irreplaceable for certain callings and jobs. Feeling as unique as one silver staple in a row of staples?  Our feelings don't change the fact that God can use us to "hold it together" as a testimony to His power among people falling apart without Him.    

     Thank You God for preferring to work with imperfect, weak people instead of using inanimate objects to express Your glory. Thank You for breathing life into us and molding us. Today, Lord, we ask You to be creative and artistic in our lives.  Remove the hard chunks in our spirits and personalities to make us more pliable in Your Hands. Thank You for not tossing us out as unusable. Write Your glory into our lives for others to see.  Mold us to be more Christ-like in every circumstance.  Thank You that You're creative enough to make something beautiful of our messy, flawed, muddy, squishy lives.  We submit everything about ourselves - our minds, hearts, emotions, wills, words, gifts, work - into Your capable fingers. 

In the Name of Jesus - the Word of God

"Isn’t the potter free to make different kinds of pots out of the same lump of clay?

Some are for special purposes. Others are for ordinary use."

  Romans 9:21

How terrible it will be for anyone who argues with his Maker!

He is like a broken piece of pottery lying on the ground.

Does clay say to a potter, “What are you making?”

Does a pot say, “You don’t have any skill”?   Isaiah 45:9