StewardLife Lesson 30

STORY

Mom was loaded down with groceries. As she came around the corner into the kitchen she tripped over one of Jeffrey's toy cars. Fortunately, the two loaded bags shifted in just the right direction and she maintained her balance. With a deep breath, she set the bags on the counter.

She peered around the corner into the family room. The floor looked like the auto recycling lot on the edge of town. There were trucks and cars everywhere. A fire engine balanced precariously across the top of the end table lamp shade.

She glanced out onto the deck. All of Jeanie's plastic building set pieces were scattered right in front of the door. How had she closed it when she came in?

Beyond the deck in the yard were two scooters, a tricycle, three pairs of in-line skates and two bicycles.

"When will these toys ever be put away properly?" mom asked herself.

All of a sudden the picture of her mother's attic flashed before her eyes. In her mother's attic were all the toys she had had as a child--all neatly put away.

Mom glanced out over the yard, the deck and the family room once more. This time she didn't see a mess--she saw blessings.

INSIGHT OUT

There are so many places in Scripture where people heard but did not listen--looked but did not see. Isaiah 6:9 is repeated throughout the Old and New Testament: "They are ever hearing but never understanding--ever seeing but never perceiving." The men who tore the roof off the house to let down the paralytic (Mark 2), the men that advised Jesus not to go to Jairus' home because his daughter had already died (Mark 5), the disciples who couldn't understand why Jesus was going up to Jerusalem one last time (Luke 18:31-34)--all had the "mom" problem in the story.

EXERCISE

Every time today that you meet a frustration, get caught up in a mess or experience conflict, consider: Hurricanes praise the Lord (Psalm 104; 148:7-8). How? What good could come out of today's negatives? Can you think of just one good thing?

INSIGHT OUT

Could it possibly be that among all the clutter of every day, God is in there trying to break through to you? His blessings are all around you. Can you see them? Can you hear Him? Maybe there is some seeing without perceiving? Some hearing without listening? In a recent report the Barna Research Group said that 44 percent of Christians surveyed had not felt the presence of God in the past year.

STORY

Bernard heard the flash flood warnings but paid little attention. But soon the runoff from the hills nearby covered his fields and the road out front. His nearest neighbor stopped by in his SUV.

"Bernie, you coming with us? They say the water's gonna rise even more."

"No, Charlie, I'll stay right here, thanks. I want to get some things put upstairs in case the water comes in."

Bernard had just finished moving everything to the second floor when he realized the water was already at the top of the stairs.

He heard a voice outside of the upstairs bedroom. It was Milt. He was in a boat with his wife Winnie, rowing by the window!

"Bernie, you'd better get in the boat--this water's still rising!"

"Thanks, Milt, but if I have to, I'll get up on the roof. It can't get that bad."

Later, huddling in the drizzle on the roof, Bernard heard a helicopter.

"Grab the rope ladder! We'll get you off that roof to safety," the town police chief called down.

"I see the rain is letting up. I'll be OK, Sam. I'm dry and I brought some provisions. I even got the battery operated TV up here."

Two hours later, Bernard's house washed away and Bernard drowned.

At the gates of Heaven Bernard met the Lord.

"Lord, what happened? I prayed that you would take care of me. Why didn't you help me?"

"Why Bernie," the Lord replied, "I did--I sent an SUV, a boat and a helicopter!"

EXERCISE

Re-read the opening story. Be the mom. What experience like this have you had recently? As a Christian living the StewardLife, how can you begin to both see and perceive God's blessings--God's help? Then how will you thank Him?

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