I Am Feeble and Weak...How Can God Use ME?

This is hubby, Arvo. He loves to boogie board. I mostly sit and watch since there are spooky creatures in the ocean that bite, sting, and attack humans. Sometimes I pray they won't bite, sting, or attack my loved ones while watching. I don't spend much time sitting, but I do like sitting on the beach watching the waves and praying my loved ones in the water survive.

You may wonder why there are so few pictures of Arvo on this vacation. Sadly, he injured himself kayaking with me a while back when his kayak capsized and he ended up walking it to shore and stepping into a deep knee wrenching hole. He is still nursing that injury so can't bike or kayak the long marathon sessions my sister Wendy and I can.

I can relate to injury now. Yesterday, I (foolishly) agreed to join Wendy and Arvo in a Pilates class. I did all right until about forty minutes into the class when something broke. Something in my back...muscular and important to pain-free living. I stopped following the instructor through a series of impossible core-strengthening moves and huddled in a painful ball in the back corner.

Sadly, even walking hurt. Lots of icing and no kayaking yesterday, and I feel just a little sore today. Pilates and I will NEVER meet again. Wendy and I biked to a pretty nature preserve and walked, which is how I know walking hurt a little. Not too terribly, and we did find a cluster of three alligators in the swamp.

Back to Arvo. He may be injured, but he loves to cook (I know...lucky me!) and has made us gourmet meals when we return from our long kayaking and biking jaunts.  This is his version (below) of Brunswick Stew which is better than any I have tasted in any restaurant.

All of which demonstrates an important principle. We can't do ALL things, but we can do SOME things, and the SOME things we can do can bless others and make others feel valued as God Himself values us.

This principle is how I became a sidewalk counselor at our local abortion center. I (grudgingly) went to the 101 Sidewalk Counselor Training for Cities4Life. I sat behind a deaf woman. She was able to speak and read lips, and sign. So I was able to eavesdrop on her discussion with the interpreter.

She asked the interpreter, "How can I be of use if I cannot hear what the woman is saying if I stop a car of someone heading in to abort?"
The interpreter asked her, "You speak clearly. Can you say, 'Please don't kill your baby'?"
"Yes."
"Then God can use you."

That was a defining moment for me. If God could use a DEAF woman to counsel women not to abort, surely He could use ME. I went to the sidewalk of the abortion center, and discovered my calling.

I hope this encourages all of you. Whatever disability, illness, limitation you face, SOME things remain for you. Can you pray? Prayer moves mountains. Can you speak encouragement? Encouraging words can change despair into hope. Can you share the Gospel? People are stumbling to destruction and yearning to know what can save them from the painful paths they are on. Can you sponsor a family who has chosen life over abortion and now faces impossible circumstances but is willing to accede to the intrinsic and priceless value of their child? You may turn that family's future around. Can you volunteer on the sidewalks and are you able to say, "Please don't kill your baby"? Then God can use you.
*******************

John 14:12

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.