Unnamed Servants!

(Peach Cobbler)

Must a person be “important” to be an effective minister for God? Do they need to be “well known”. We often think that unless we have a visible ministry, we really are not doing much for God. I truly believe that God is more pleased with those who minister “behind the scenes” than those who are the “players on the stage.” Think of the many people in Scripture, who have no name, and yet God placed them in the right place at the right time so they might carry on a particular ministry that only they could accomplish for the glory of God. They will be greatly rewarded – just as those of us who serve anonymously will be greatly rewarded.

With this thought in mind, I would like us to think about a few of these “unnamed” individuals that God used so mightily.

Do you know the name of Paul’s nephew who so courageously saved him from death? His story can be found in Acts 23:12-22. Paul’s nephew hears of a plot to have Paul killed. He carries this news to Paul, who asks that he be taken to the commander. The commander listens, taking this news seriously. Paul is safely led out of the prison to another location – all because ‘someone’ was brave enough to share news he had overheard. Paul’s story would have been entirely different had it not been for his nephew!

Do you know the name of the little boy who gave Jesus his lunch? I wonder why God doesn’t share this with us? Would it really matter if he had? Would the story have turned out any differently? One little boy, perhaps sitting with his parents listening to Jesus teach. It was announced that it was lunch time. The disciples encouraged people to go on their way. Jesus said that lunch was on him. Only problem, he needed some food. A little boy left the safety of his parents and went to Jesus offering him what he had. Five loaves and two fish. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. Jesus took this offered lunch, gave it back to God, and God multiplied it to feed the crowd of 5,000 plus. God used an unnamed boy to complete a miracle.

Do you know the name of the little maid who had great influence in the life of Naaman? His story is found in 2 Kings 5. Naaman, who was a great warrior and commander of king Aram’s army suffered from leprosy. Naaman’s wife had a little maid who worked for her. One day this little girl came to her mistress and said, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.” One little girl who had a great amount of faith!
These words get back to the king, who told Naaman to go visit this prophet. How the king must have loved this man! When Naaman meets the prophet Elisha, he is given this response – “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”

What? Seems like an odd request. Naaman thought so too. In fact, he becomes angry at these words and stalked away. Thank God for rational people who traveled with him! They encourage him to do as he was told by the prophet. Naaman does. He goes to the river. Dips himself seven times and is immediately healed. He exclaims, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel....” One little girl, with no name, changed the course of this great man.

Where are you serving the Lord today? Does anyone know? Does anyone even care? God does. He knows exactly what you are doing, why you are doing so, and to whom you are ministering to. Keep working. The only person we truly have to please is God and the only person who really needs to know is God. I love doing things “behind the scenes” and knowing God is smiling at my service. “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” – Psalm 100:2 (KJV)

Peace Cobbler

1 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 cup sugar
1 can (29 ounces) sliced peach, drained

1 Heat oven to 375ºF. Stir together Bisquick mix, milk and nutmeg in ungreased square baking dish, 8x8x2 inches. Stir in butter until blended. Stir together sugar and peaches; spoon over batter. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until golden.
Serve warm with ice cream, a drizzle with caramel topping and a sprinkling of toasted pecans--a delicious way to dazzle your family!
Sprinkle coarse decorating sugar over the dough before baking.
Double the recipe! Make as directed, except double all the ingredients and use a rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches.

Why God Called You

(Recipe: Oven roasted corn-on-the-cob)

I would like to share some “Food for Thought” with you today. Something I came across while cleaning out some old papers. The author of this little piece is unknown, but the truth of what is written is priceless.

WHY GOD CALLED YOU

There are many reasons why God shouldn’t have called you. But don’t worry. You’re in good company. MOSES stuttered. DAVIDS' armor didn’t fit. JOHN MARK was rejected by Paul. TIMOTHY had ulcers. HOSEAS' wife was a prostitute. AMOS’ only training was in the school of fig tree pruning. JACOB was a liar. DAVID had an affair. SOLOMON was too rich. JESUS was too poor. ABRAHAM was too old. DAVID was too young. PETER was afraid of death. LAZARUS was dead. JOHN was self-righteous. NAOMI was a widow. PAUL was a murderer. So was MOSES. JONAH ran from God. MIRIAM was a gossip. GIDEON and THOMAS both doubted. JEREMIAH was a bullfrog (just kidding); he was depressed and suicidal. ELIJAH was burned out. JOHN the BAPTIST was a loudmouth. MARTHA was a worrywart. MARY was lazy. SAMSON had long hair.

NOAH got drunk. Did I mention that MOSES had a short fuse? So did PETER, PAUL –well, lots of folks did. But God doesn’t require a job interview. He doesn’t hire and fire like most bosses, because He is more our Dad than our Boss. He doesn’t look at financial gain or loss. He is not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, sassy, or brassy, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need. As much as we try, God’s gifts are free. We could do wonderful things for wonderful people and still not be...Wonderful.

Satan says, ‘You’re not worthy.’ Jesus says, ‘So what? I AM.’ Satan looks back and sees our mistakes. God looks back and sees the cross. He doesn’t calculate what you did in ’88. It’s not even on the record. Sure there are lots of reasons why God shouldn’t have called us. But if we are magically in love with Him, if we hunger for Him more than our next breath, He will use us in spite of who we are, where we’ve been, or what we look like.

I pray that as Christians, we will step out of our limitations into the illimitable nature of who God is. Then our passion for God and our passion to communicate to Him will make mincemeat of our limitations.

“When Jesus heard this, he told them, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor-sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.’” - Mark 2:17 (NLT)

“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” - Romans 10:13

Oven Roasted Corn-on-the-Cob

Place your un-husked corn on a baking sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. (baking your corn seals in the juices and flavor)
Remove from oven. Cut the large end of the cob, and peel back the husk and the silk. The silk will be easily removed. Serve with butter, S & P.