Duty is Ours – Results are God’s
Friday was a very encouraging day at school.
The first class we went into was a 4th grade class where we had talked about Gratefulness and made thank you notes the week before. It was such a joy to hear that almost 100% of the cards had been delivered, and to discuss with the children how it brightened up the lives of those who had helped them.
At lunch time my teaching partner had to leave for work and accidently took the sheep puppet prop with him. This was a problem since all of my afternoon classes were younger grades where I had planned to tell the story of the forgiving shepherd. Not sure what I was going to do, I told a friend who said she had brought a mouse puppet and stuffed lion that I could use. It turned out it was of the Lord to have the lion with me because several of my classes remembered the lion from previous visits and it added a whole new dynamic and interest in the story that really grabbed their attention. It turned out better then my original plan! What a refreshement to hear they had remembered lessons from last fall.
In a Special Education class I was explaining the importance of forgiving those who are rude to us when one of the girls spoke up and said, “You should have told me that a long time ago!” She then proceeded to tell me about someone who was often mean to her. She had made the link between what we were talking about and how to apply it in her life.
It is so encouraging when God lets us see bits of the results from the work He has called us to do. This motivates me to do my duty well, because there are results – whether it’s God’s time to let me see them or not.
Can anyone guess where the title of this post originated?
Such experiences are faith-building! God is such a kind Heavenly Father full of grace to His children in letting them see results of their service to Him because He is never obliged to do so.
My guess is that your title is a quote from John Adams (Google searches are a helpful tool!). Although spoken by a mortal, it contains a reassuring truth which when lived by may repel discouragement.
May God continue using you to draw Oklahoma schoolchildren to Himself!
That’s a great report Esther! I know what you feel like when you see one of the children make a link between the topic in class and the needs at hand. Good job. May the Lord continue to bless you with creativity. And I’ll have to second the guess for John Adams–his determination, also, came at an important time in our nation’s history.
Stonewall Jackson? But I think John Quincy Adams was the original author of the quote…
By the way, James and Robert, thank you SO much for all your posts about Huckabee! I was floored on Tuesday to see the results from West Virginia. PTL! Robert, I really appreciated your posts defending Huckabee on foreign policy and taxes. I’ve had to do the same myself in emails to friends and church family, defending Huckabee’s record on immigration, taxes, homeschooling, etc., but your post was one of the best summaries I’ve seen out there. Thank you for taking the time, effort, and diligence to share that with us!
Elliot
(You all probably don’t know me, but my brother and I have attended a couple music courses at ITC – Sound Found, String Workshop 2006, Harmony 2006, the Gardner Workshop in 2007, + Piano Arranging. We first met Robert and Donald at Sound Foundations, and we have a friend, Carissa Gay, who also served in Mongolia. After seeing the Life Focus guys up close in 2006, I almost went to Life Focus last year, but the timing didn’t work out.)
How often the Lord changes my presupposed plans or even sends an unexpected interruption to undermine the flesh. As Dr. Jerry Benjamin puts it, God desires to be pre-emiment vs. just promiment in our life. A timely reminder indeed – thank you!
What an encouragement to hear how God has been leading you.
He leadeth me! O blessed thot!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
What e’er I do, where e’er I be,
Still tis God’s hand that leadeth me!