The Best Answer Is God!

They showed up with no note or name attached. An anonymous donor dropped off a big bag of cards for our ministry that supports cancer survivors. The cards were beautiful with themes and messages for every occasion and age of recipient.

There were over 125 hand-crafted cards in that bag. I was in awe that someone touched every single card and poured their time, energy, and money into those cards. Then, that person gave the bunch away without any strings attached. I wish I knew who to thank. I want to send them a card, give them a hug, and let them know the blessings their cards will be for our cancer survivors.

In the book of Acts, the men of Athens didn’t know who to worship. As a result, they filled their city with many idols. In Acts 17:23, the Apostle Paul connects the dots for the people: For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

As Christians, we know who to worship: God the Father. We don’t have to wonder if God loves us for we are God’s favorite creation made in His image. We know the depth of God’s love through His Son Jesus Christ who died for our sins. In a world with more questions than answers and more doubts than certainties, God speaks truth deep into our hearts. Jesus’ resurrection cements our eternal hope in God.

Paul expressed it best in Acts 17:24-25, 28: “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else… ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”

The answer to my question of who to thank is God. My gratitude for the cards is lifted up as praise to God for meeting the ministry’s needs with bountiful and oftentimes, surprise blessings. God connects people in unique ways to serve Him and share the love of Jesus with others. God even uses a piece of decorated card stock to let us know that He is always the best answer!

 

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Highest Compliment

As a late bloomer in regards to writing, I am grateful for the encouragement to keep writing. Guest-blogging for a fellow writer is always a high honor, but not the highest compliment. Being asked by a friend, the editor of a quarterly magazine for a local newspaper, to submit an article is confirmation of my abilities. Seeing my name in print is still not the highest compliment. Retirees, needing a write-up on their volunteer activity, asked me to compose it. Their thank you was a gift card. Even being paid for my writing was not the highest compliment.

The highest compliment was my card propped up on a bedside table. I did not personally know this person who was a cancer patient in hospice. As part of the ministry Cancer Hope, I send cards with a message of Christ’s love. (Read my previous post on Cancer Hope.) I don’t remember what I wrote, but I know that the words were inspired by the Holy Spirit and prayed over before being mailed. After the woman died, I heard from a family member (in the ministry) that my card was near their loved one in her final days.

The highest compliment was that God chose me to write His words of comfort and to share His love. Evidence of the highest compliment was a simple homemade card that will be our special connection for all of eternity in heaven. Hearing God, being a vessel for God and touching lives will always be the highest compliment in my book.

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Psalm 126:5

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.