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Showing posts with label motives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motives. Show all posts

Sunday, February 27, 2011

The Power of One

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Luke 15:4
“I love your blog. Keep up the good work...” My tears blurred the rest of the e-mail as I bowed my head. “Lord, You knew just what I needed today. Thank you.” The last few weeks had been hard as I tried to adjust to the changes that my continued eye problems necessitated. With reduced computer time and daily tasks taking longer, I had decided that morning to let go of blogging.

But through the day, as the words of the e-mail flitted through my mind, I reconsidered my decision, and marveled at the influence of one person’s words. As the sun’s rays disappeared beneath the horizon, I remembered the Shepherd who left the ninety-nine in the pen to search for the missing one. The One whose love embraces us one at a time, whose call reaches one heart at a time—something that’s sometimes obscured by mass communication, social networking, platform building, and marketing’s emphasis on numbers. So I’m still blogging, keeping in mind that God’s economics are different than mine. His words, written through each of us, wrap themselves around the hearts of one reader at a time, and maybe one reader reaches out to another and another…the power of one.

When Anita Mellott isn’t homeschooling, she writes to encourage others (From the Mango Tree  (http://amellott.wordpress.com/). She has more than ten years of experience as a writer/editor in the nonprofit world. Her book of devotionals for homeschooling parents will be released by Judson Press in summer 2011.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

The Light by Anita Mellot


Anita Mellott homeschools and blogs “Words of Encouragement and Hope” at From the Mango Tree. Her book of devotionals for homeschooling parents will be released by Judson Press in late summer 2011.

The Light

“Father, forgive us for having more passion for our names than Yours.” I paused as the worship pastor led us in corporate confession.

“Whose glory do you seek? Is it God’s or yours?” At my pastor’s question, I knew it was time to get on my knees.

Those words lingered in the following weeks. As I read and meditated on Matthew 6, the Light revealed the impurities within, like dust particles swirl around in the bright beam of sunlight.

“Lord, why is it that even my obedience and service to You is tinged with selfishness?” I wondered as the spotlight of the Holy Spirit probed deeper. Though I adopted the Psalmist’s prayer: “Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults” (Psalm 19:12), there was no balm as the subtlety of sin overwhelmed me.

“Lord, can my motives ever be pure?” I whispered. The answer stirred hope within my soul. “On your knees at the foot of the cross, those dust particles become invisible in the light of my Son’s love.”

So I continue to follow His leading, assured that He works within me to purify the dross. And I’m humbled that He breathes His words through this marred vessel’s pen so others may know He brings life and hope.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).