Good morning, friends.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 6:6, “Whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.”
Our church just voted on and approved our 2020 budget. To get to this point, much time and effort was put into the process by the Finance Committee, who in turn had gathered information and input from the many particular ministries and leaders. As you might expect, the numbers were analyzed and tweaked, compared to previous years and projected forward as to how they might look in the great unknown. We held a couple of Q&A sessions to address anyone’s concerns or uncertainties, and then the budget was formally presented for consideration. According to our by-laws, since the recommendation came from a committee, the motion to approve did not need a second, and those present were then asked to vote. The thought is that the committee has done the work and prayed through the process as they were charged to do, so their recommendation should carry the weight of a fully-endorsed motion. The church was being asked to trust the process and the efforts of those who were chosen to do the work.
You have gone though, or will go through, a similar process regarding your children. At some point, when they are 18, 20, 22 or whatever that age is, you will be expected to trust the process and the efforts put into raising them and let them go out on their own. Then won’t be the time to re-do or second guess all that you had done as their God-appointed guardian. For you, trusting God will go from looking very familiar to looking entirely different. For some, it’s easier, and for others, it’s much more difficult. But it’s definitely no longer as it was.
But our faith in our Lord, even as it helps prepare our children for the rest of their life, should be preparing us for the changes that come our way, too. How much faith is required if all we do is rehearse but never take the stage live and for real? When you think about it, it’s staggering how much is truly out of our hands. But equally staggering is the God who holds it all in the palm of His hand. He can manage it all, and He wants you to stop trying to be His co-god. Trust Him where you’re involved, and trust Him once you should step back. Lay your hands on it, and then give it over to the Master.
As we seek Him today, live out your faith in God’s sovereignty by being the trusting subject to His Almighty King.
Have a trusting Tuesday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
