Homegrown Journal

Devotion

How do you like my frog hat? I am at the treatment center waiting for my chemotherapy. Today I am handing out bookmarks to the other cancer patients. I made them. I know. I’m a 52-year-old dork, but at least I’m a dork for Jesus! One side has a Bible verse, and the other side has a dad joke.

So why would I do this?

Read

Because Isaiah 55:10-11 says, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Devotion

Everyone in that center needs encouragement, and since I do not mind looking silly, I have been tasked with delivering God’s Word in a non-threatening way to my new friends.

The Holy Spirit prompted me, and I acted. I wish with all my heart I always acted on His promptings, but that would not be true. Sometimes I dismiss Him. Sometimes I table the prompting until I am done doing what I want to do. Sometimes I act. If the task seems doable, meaning I know how to do it and have the resources to do it, then I usually do it. Did I have to wait for God to provide the hat, the markers, the cardstock? No. I had the resources. Did I need to learn how to write, cut and glue before I began this project? No. I had the ability. This was all in my wheelhouse. And it needed to be because, at the time, I was in a pit. The devil had convinced me, as a weakened, diminished soul, with a disease I cannot control, the Lord had benched me. He could not use me. It makes me cry to even type these words.

The devil is a liar. Our Creator made us to do good works. He has lovingly given each of us certain abilities and talents. Some of you can bake and fill the bellies of hungry people. Some of you can write and bring us closer to God through your words. Some of you can coach and lovingly guide people to be more than they thought they could be.

When I heard my diagnosis of Stage 4 colon cancer, I immediately thought, “Oh, no!!! I don’t think I ever became the person God wanted me to be, and now it’s too late!!!” My Friends, do not let this be you. Start today, and seek the Lord. I encourage each of you, even if not much seems possible for you right now, ask God what you can do.

Just like the young boy with his tiny lunch of fish and bread, when given to our Master, our gift is multiplied for the good of others and for our Savior’s glory. I urge you to send a text, call a friend, bake something, write a card, forward a funny pic, hug someone, tell a dad joke, pray for someone, pray with someone, recommend a good book, give a gift, wear a frog hat, pass out homemade bookmarks! In the hands of our Redeemer, you can’t even imagine what He will do with your offering.

Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, you are our Source. Everything good comes from you. You sent us an innocent baby in a manger, who lived a sinless life, and died a criminal’s death to save us from our sins. And with our gratefulness for your gift of Jesus, we are to bring you glory all the days of our lives. Please help us to do so, in Jesus’ name we pray, amen.