Even the ‘little toe’ has a purpose in Kingdom work
By Barbara Eubanks
Author and humorist
I don’t know why the little toe exists unless it’s radar signaling a piece of furniture in the middle of the night, always a little too late. I don’t know why I exist except for God to use me in some way.
I’m just a little toe in the body of Christ (Rom. 12:4–8), but I’m useful to the Kingdom because He made me. My goal and my prayer is that God will use me each day for His glory.
During this pandemic and time of extreme isolation for me, I have had to double down on my prayers for God to show me how to be useful while staying home by myself.
I like to cook. I show love to people with food. After seeing a few young women complaining on Facebook about having to cook so much while the family was all home, the thought occurred to me (I call it a holy nudge) that I might be able to help some of them by showing how to make good meals with what they have on hand.
I started developing cooking videos on Facebook to do just that. I then put them on my website for friends who don’t do social media. I’ve cooked everything from chicken and dumplings to homemade biscuits; from 10-minute sugar cookies to cobblers.
I’ve gained great satisfaction in doing this and have had many followers who say I’ve helped them.
Our church has been having someone teach the Sunday School lesson online, and our pastor brings a sermon on our church’s website.
I have some Facebook friends who never go to church and probably wouldn’t go to a church’s website. I got another holy nudge — teach the Sunday School lesson on Facebook for these friends.
It has been a great success in that I see many of these nonbelievers watching. As an added bonus, I’ve reconnected with many of my former students this way.
This little toe has profited in many ways by following God’s holy nudges. This has kept me busy. I’ve found friends, made new friends and stayed out of a valley of depression. I’ve also been able to feed a few neighbors from my bounty and cooking. This little toe is just as important as the head when I allow God to use me.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Barbara Eubanks is the author of three humorous devotional books, “Humorous Happenings in Holy Places,” “And the Angels Laughed” and “Laughing with the Lord.” She also has published two Christian novels, “A Web Too Tight” and “A New Beginning: God’s Second Chances.” She has written numerous magazine and newspaper articles and Sunday School lessons for LifeWay. She lives in Boaz.
5 common mistakes when counseling others
In a recent video published on LifeWayVoices.com, Lilly Park, certified counselor and assistant professor of biblical counseling at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, explains five of the most common mistakes we can make when trying to counsel others.
1. Good intentions
We are quick to say something that was helpful for us personally, but it really isn’t helpful to that person. Good intentions are helpful sometimes, but it’s not always enough. It’s okay if you don’t know what to say. You can always say, “I’m sorry, I’ll be praying for you.”
2. Hearing without listening
What I mean is that we can get so familiar with certain problems [that we don’t recognize] each person is unique in how they experience the same problem. I can get familiar to the point of giving the same response to everyone.
Listen and try to remove those preplanned words and distractions. Try to be there with that person so you can give more thoughtful and loving responses.
3. Address the body and soul
God has created all of us with a body and a soul. Some of us lean more towards addressing the physical components, and that’s important. We want medical attention if that’s needed. We want to exercise, eat well, those things. But we also want to care for the soul.
Yet some of us can overly focus on the soul and just say, “Well, you just need to pray. You just need to read the Bible.” But it’s both. We should be good stewards in helping people think holistically about their problems.
4. Be there physically
We are relational beings. [We are not] created to be alone, no matter how much we know or we think we know about the Bible and the answers to this life. The point is that we need each other.
I have benefited greatly from godly men and women who have spoken truth into my life and who have made time to be there for me. We don’t have to be experts to love someone. Just being there physically can speak volumes.
5. Our hope is in Christ
That doesn’t mean God will just remove that hard trial no matter how much you pray about it, but God will give us the grace and strength to endure it and to conform us more to the image of Christ.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Reprinted with permission. To read the full transcript, visit lifewayvoices.com and search for “Lilly Park.”
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Some long-tenured pastors feel this current situation has led to some of their most difficult days in ministry. Pastors need your prayers and your understanding as they try to make the best decisions for the church family. …
Difficult decisions, dwindling attendance and other issues can weigh on pastors and make their calling even more challenging. Now is the time to show them patience and grace as we lift them up in prayer.
Now would be a good time for you to express your personal appreciation to your pastor and let him know you are investing more time in intercessory prayer for him as he ministers during these daily challenges.
A short text or an email to him can offer more encouragement than you realize. Just a few words to let him know you realize his load is heavy and that you appreciate and respect him will be a special and welcomed blessing. Invite others to join you.
Milton Hollifield
Executive director, Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
Diversity is a positive experience only if it is accompanied with respect, understanding, gratitude and hope.
Pastor Javier Chavez
Gainesville, Ga.
God is teaching me during this time … that he provides no matter what. He’s teaching me that no matter how much control I may think I have over my life, I have no control whatsoever. He’s been teaching me that it is time for me to put that control out of my hands and into His hands and to completely have faith and trust in Him.
Celena McAlpine
University of Montevello
Onemissionstudents.org
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TRUTH. We are living in a time where Satan doesn’t even hide anymore, and the world still can’t see him.
Evil is real, folks. Any of us can be victim of it or be the aggressor. The answer is submitting our lives to Christ, which allows us to make peace with God — and peace then is available in our lives.
We become so overwhelmed at the mercy Christ Jesus gives us that we have to extend it in gratitude to others.
Terry Wilhite
Mobile, Ala.
We have so many misgivings of what the future holds in our tomorrow of uncertainty, yet the psalmist understood the Lord had delivered him from death. Because of this, he could trust the Lord to catch him from falling so he could walk before the presence of God. The battles of this life do not define who we are. The trouble of our yesterdays can remind someone else in his or her tomorrows that there is hope in Jesus, our Savior, who we will live with forever.
D. Jay Powell
“Be Inspired: 101 Thoughts for Every Christian Writer”
The Bible says our world is like raging surf with the forces of darkness constantly breaking around us.
These evil forces push us one way and then pull us another, trying to drown our souls and destroy our lives. In such a spiritually chaotic world, we must stand firm in our faith so we are not carried away by these dark forces.
Let us follow the command of Scripture and be “strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Eph. 6:10).
Bob Adams
Retired pastor
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From the Twitterverse
@CSLewis_Quote
“There is no excess of goodness. You cannot go too far in the right direction.” #CSLewis
@jenniferwilkin
Whether we speak our piece or hold our peace, let it be done in the fear of the Lord, not the fear of man.
@DustyMcLemore
“For our fallen culture to seek Jesus, it needs to see Jesus in us. More today than yesterday and more tomorrow than today.” — @JimDenison
@TrevinWax
Sometimes the call to faithfulness may seem like a burden. But may we never forget that this call is also our greatest privilege. We live in light of the truth, trusting that the flame of faithfulness that passes from generation to generation will never go out.
@kk4me2
We trust fully in the promises of God because He is loving, faithful and true.
@JBozeAL
[I] have said it many, many times on here. God is still God, Jesus is still Lord and the Bible is still the word of God. That being said, the next time I type that, none of the above will have changed. Oh, praise His name!
@RevKevDeYoung
Don’t ever think that gathering for worship isn’t doing anything. In the midst of a world that feels like it is falling apart, turning our attention to God is always a step in the right direction.
@micahfries
We’re in a moment where many are increasingly skeptical about their faith while dogmatic and even fundamentalist about their political ideology. Flip it. Be passionately steadfast in your faith and radically skeptical of your own and anyone else’s political ideology.
— Mark Sayers
@nathanrose33
When the devil hurls his accusations against you, reminding you of your sin, go ahead and agree with him. You should also point out that he missed a few. But then remind him, as well as your heart, that this is the very reason why Jesus came — to die for sinners like you.
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