UIH 2

Today has been a very special day.  I have been well and solidly blessed.  No, our circumstances haven’t changed but God’s providence is not singular but plenary.  I comes in all colors and hues and comes as the need, according to His will, needs to be met.  Today He met a need unexpectedly and wonderfully.

More on Us in Him

It’s a nut – an acorn – its becoming an oak is His to determine.  In the last UIH post I tried to give a picture of that nut.  Oh, I can dream of all that it might become but the danger there is forgetting that right now, it’s a nut.

But you know, there is symmetry and beauty in an acorn.  It’s simple with clean lines.  And yet when we look at it there’s not much of an oak there.  Even when we look at the acorn and the oak at the same time and we understand the dynamics of it becoming an oak we still, at least I, can’t wrap our heads around it.

But all acorns don’t become oaks.  Some become squirrel food.  As I consider UIH I have to ask God to help me remember that.  Not to the exclusion of oakness but as His potential alternative. 

When we undertake some work He lays on our hearts we are faced with the danger of expecting everything the world defines as success to be the natural outcome.  I have to keep that in mind.  All acorns don’t become oaks and that’s OK, just be the acorn – the rest is His concern.

OK, I’m not Moses and don’t pretend to be even close.  But I am put in mind of Moses in Numbers 20 when he went beyond God’s directive.  This is something about which we all need to be cautious.  Great things are not always big and shiny – sometimes they are rather plain and simple.

I am also reminded of the “cup of water” thing:

"For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.   (Mar 9:41)

The “because” in that verse it the key.  It’s just a cup of water but He transforms that into so much more.  Miracle or mundane, the act isn’t the issue, the because is.

So we go into UIH because of Him.  Because of how He’s blessed us and led us and protects us.  In gratitude and submission we follow His leading.  We  take one step at a time knowing that we are following not leading. 

We’ve all heard the phrase, “It is what it is.”  Well, that’s UIH.

Will you pray for His will to be done in and through UIH?  Will you pray for the “team” He is bringing together to serve the others He brings?  We would all be so grateful for your prayers.  Pray that the acorn, although it may aspire to be an oak doesn't get pretentious.  Feeding squirrels is just fine with us!  If you could let us know somehow we would be very grateful and encouraged.