Pastor’s Thoughts

For me, November is more of time of reflection than the traditional New Years Eve / New Years Day celebration. The glory of spring has come and gone, the warm productive long summer days are a thing of the past, and for the most part the beauty of fall has faded into the blandness of pre-winter. Thoughts of what have I accomplished and what I have left undone seem to fill my mind. Here is where those reflections have led me and I share those concepts with you.

There was a TV show that aired a few years ago called “Are You Smarter Than a Sixth Grader” which intended to exposed the fact that most adults don’t have the best memory in the world. I watched that show a time or two and this was my conclusion. I might not be smarter than a sixth grader but I am smart enough not to subject myself to public humiliation on national TV allowing the producer to make money proving it. Stay with me now this is going somewhere.

As I set reflecting on this year’s productive season, a passage from the Bible came to my mind, and it kind of scared me. I had to ask myself, “Danny, are you smarter than a bug”. Here is the passage that came to mind.

· Proverbs 6:4-11 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. 6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

November is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving, counting our blessings is a normal response. How many of God’s blessings am I going to miss because of neglect, sluggishness, or thoughtlessness? I must consider through all of these productive months I’ve enjoyed the council of God’s word, the Holy Spirit’s nudge, and the saints’ encouragement and none of those ants had any guidance, oversight, or ruler to give one hint of influence to help them be productive. Now here are the questions that come to mind, which of us is more prepared for what lies ahead and which of us has been more productive? Wow, I think I need to go read John 3:16 so I’ll feel better, however maybe it isn’t John 3:16 that I need to hear right now.

Here is my prayer. God, you are so good, your care and love for me is overwhelming, help me to listen, learn, and faithfully apply your word to my life, so when I consider an ant, I won’t have any doubt that I am smarter than a bug, and therefore I won’t miss out on any blessing that you might want to send my way.

Pastor Danny