Nuts and Bolts

The new go-kart has proven popular with the grandchildren – even those who can’t yet reach the pedals – and the children of friends who are visiting. After some left last week, Don noticed a bolt and washer were missing from the steering mechanism, and the ‘nose’ had been scuffed. The first scratches are always the worst.

We needed to find the missing bolt. As I walked down the drive to collect the recycling barrel, I noticed something glinting in the sun. A tiny brass washer. No sign of a black plastic bolt nearby, but Don confirmed this washer was the missing one. So, after spending more time picking more cherries, I took a stroll down the drive again, this time actively engaging the help of God, who knows where everything is. I knew he could guide me to where the missing bolt might lay and sure enough, I saw it lying beneath the overhanging branches of a dog rose. I didn’t hear a voice; I didn’t feel anything supernatural, but I was somehow really aware that my helper was with me and guiding me.

I will never leave you, Jesus promised his disciples. He told the tale of the woman who lost a coin in her house and didn’t stop looking until it was found. He is a loving Lord who wants to find the lost. A plastic bolt doesn’t look like much, but in the long run it might greatly affect the operation of this toy. God knows the potential of every individual and sees the possibilities. With his help, we can partner with him to find and restore the lost.

Listen

Last summer, while awaiting the birth of my first grandchild, I spent an hour every afternoon sitting in the conservatory (better light) working on a cross-stitch for this child. As I worked, I listened. I listened in the silence to what God wanted to say about this baby. I wrote down the words or phrases that came to mind and after Felicity was born, I sewed her name and birth date on it and printed out the words God had given me, and gave it to her.

She will be a year old in another month, and this afternoon I looked at the copy I kept of God’s words about this amazing wee miracle. I was astonished at how accurate they are. Why was I astonished? God knew this life before he created her in the womb, and he has loved her forever. 

I don’t believe that Felicity is any better a person because I joined in with God’s thinking about her. But it thrills me to know that he shared his secrets with me before she was even born. And that encourages my faith to keep on listening, keep on believing, keep on asking, keep on expecting. 

God is our loving Father who delights to work with us in this world. He invites us to partner with him but so often we lack the faith and courage to believe that what we feel in our hearts or think in our minds can actually be given to us from our heavenly Father. 

I’m excited again by the possibilities of partnering with our divine King to bring his Kingdom here to earth. And rather than rushing off to do even more great stuff, I hope I’ve got the message: it’s more effective to sit down and listen and agree with His plans.

Wow.