Are we "bent reeds?"

[Van]

Reeds refer to straight stocks, used as walking sticks, such as today we might use a cane to aid us in getting where we need to go. Sometime, after leaning perhaps too heavily upon one, it would bend or break or become unusable to support.

In Isaiah 41:1-4 we see our Messiah, our Christ in prophecy, and in the New Testament we can see how Jesus fulfilled these promises.

One of my favorite "bruised reeds" is our Apostle Peter. Did he collapse under the weight of a little girl? Yes, three times! But just upon whom did Christ build His church? Did Jesus require Peter to mend his weaknesses before Christ would use him to "tend His sheep?" No Siree Bob!

Are we a wick putting out so dim a light we should be pinched off? Perhaps. But is that what Jesus would do? Nope.

Just because we are keenly aware of our past mistakes and our present failures does not disqualify us from service. Perhaps we should not serve as teachers or Pastors, but we can rake the leaves, vacuum the carpet and wash out the toilet. Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand...

God gives grace to the humble but opposes the proud

 

[Charlie24]

Reeds refer to straight stocks, used as walking sticks, such as today we might use a cane to aid us in getting where we need to go. Sometime, after leaning perhaps too heavily upon one, it would bend or break or become unusable to support.

In Isaiah 41:1-4 we see our Messiah, our Christ in prophecy, and in the New Testament we can see how Jesus fulfilled these promises.

One of my favorite "bruised reeds" is our Apostle Peter. Did he collapse under the weight of a little girl? Yes, three times! But just upon whom did Christ build His church? Did Jesus require Peter to mend his weaknesses before Christ would use him to "tend His sheep?" No Siree Bob!

Are we a wick putting out so dim a light we should be pinched off? Perhaps. But is that what Jesus would do? Nope.

Just because we are keenly aware of our past mistakes and our present failures does not disqualify us from service. Perhaps we should not serve as teachers or Pastors, but we can rake the leaves, vacuum the carpet and wash out the toilet. Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand...

God gives grace to the humble but opposes the proud

This reminds me of my Dad, saved at 75, that's a miracle in itself.

The Church had some land that had grown up and Dad had a tractor and bush hog, so he asked the Pastor if he would like for it to be cleaned up.

That was his part he was happy to do. He kept in looking good, and did other various things in the name of the Lord until he passed.

A totally changed Dad from the one I had previously known!

 

[Van]

This reminds me of my Dad, saved at 75, that's a miracle in itself.

The Church had some land that had grown up and Dad had a tractor and bush hog, so he asked the Pastor if he would like for it to be cleaned up.

That was his part he was happy to do. He kept in looking good, and did other various things in the name of the Lord until he passed.

A totally changed Dad from the one I had previously known!

Thank you so much, Charlie24! A friend of mine, a young Marine, saw I was attempting to clean up the publicly owned gully behind our church property, but much of the needed work was too much for an old and frail person like myself. When he started to help, other members also joined in, and we put on quite a public display for our neighbors, all to the glory of God. It was just one of the small stepping stones that brought the sale of that property, and enabled the move to new property. The maximum attendance at the old property was 212 persons, but within 3 years after our move, the weekend attendance was over 2000. God uses broken or bent reeds for His glorious purpose.