Hands of God

Our great-niece posted Chatgpt AI pictures of her family. I spent a good part of the day trying to do the same with the free Gemini app from Google. Fun, but frustrating when I couldn’t remember how to do it again. I’ll keep working another day. I used up my portion of patience for now.

For a long time, I had been planning a picture to give to my son-in-law, Mark. I wanted the photo to look like God’s light was flowing from him to his patients.

He is a talented pediatrician who has such empathy for the children, their parents, and entire families in his practice. Knowing he and other doctors have the lives of their patients in their hands, I pray for them every day.

I’m sure not all doctors are believers, but as they extend their knowledge and expertise, they are serving humanity in unique ways. In that service, God grants them abilities to deal with their stress, challenges, successes, and sometimes the tragic events they witness in their daily work. All in the medical field are my heroes! (Except crazy researchers who accidentally or intentionally bring devastating disease and death into our world!)

So many heroes to pray for. Consider military and law enforcement personnel and the risks they take. Think of parents dedicated to nurturing their children. Even the workers bussing tables at the cheapest restaurant are serving others. Be appreciative and pray.

1Peter 4:10-11 reminds us all to serve one another as good stewards of God’s grace. Whoever serves others in any way should recognize all our giftings and opportunities are from God. And for what purpose?

Glad you asked.

1 Peter 4 says everything God provides is to bring glory to Him through Christ Jesus.

Galatians 5:13 says we are to serve through love. In that way we are showing the world God’s love. May we do so in word and deed with a beautiful, God-given spirit.

Ephesians 5:1-2 says to be imitators of God as we behave as His beloved children. In so doing we offer our sacrifice to God as a fragrant offering.

I am thinking about the service I offer to God, evaluating the spirit in which I fulfill His purpose for my life, wondering if I am a fragrant offering to God. Sometimes, I think my spirit as I serve others is probably as stinky as a bag of garbage left outside on a hot summer day! On the opposite spectrum, I must tamp down and rebuke any self-righteousness when I do something good. All glory must show God’s love, not my talent or good deeds.

May we thank God for our many blessings and fulfill our purpose by showing God’s love.

Blessings

Kara Beth