THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

November 30, 2022

LIFE IN THE FOLD

On Thanksgiving, one of my nephews and his family had lunch with his mom, siblings, Jon and I. That evening they went to his wife's sister's home to celebrate Thanksgiving with her side of the family. His wife's sister did all of the cooking for everyone. After the meal, she asked my nephew and his wife, "So which meal was better?"

That's really an unfair question to ask someone, and puts them in a very awkward position. The person asking wants you to say that their cooking was the best, and if you say otherwise, their feelings will get hurt.

The wife answered, "Your food was really good;" trying to avoid having to give a direct answer. I'm not sure whether or not my nephew gave an answer. The sister finally said, "Oh wait! They've been cooking for years, haven't they?!" I believe my nephew's wife responded by saying something like, "Yes, they have! Your meal was really good, but they have been cooking for many years."

My sister and I have both had many years of experience of cooking, and it's unfair for someone who has really not been cooking for very long to compare their abilities to ours; or asking others to choose whose food is best. It doesn't mean that they can't cook good food. But comparing cooking experience of forty-five years or so to only a short time is not realistic.

Many times we compare ourselves to others, not thinking about the facts or looking at whether or not it's a fair comparison. Kids will even do this, and become frustrated or disappointed because they can't do something that someone else can. They don't consider that the other child may be older then they are, more flexible or athletic, or more skilled in a particular area. Comparison rarely ends up well or makes you feel good about yourself.

Jon has seen this happen throughout the years of being an engineer. He has worked in the field of engineering and computer programming for thirty years. But young employees think that it's unfair that he makes more money or has more benefits than they do. They don't want to put the time in to gain the experience that Jon has, but think that they deserve to be equal with him as an employee. Then they get assigned to jobs that is outside of their experience and call Jon for help, wanting him to bail them out; but seldom give him the credit for doing so.

Spiritually, we can compare ourselves to other people. We see God working through them and in them and feel inferior. At times, we may even feel as if we are failing as a christian and struggle in the area of faith. Why does God answer their prayers and use them, and not us? Perhaps it's because God doesn't want to use us in the same way that He is using them, but has a different plan. He has a specific purpose for them, but also for us. We also don't always know what a person has gone through in their life, in order to bring them to the place where they are.

Psalms 139:16-17 says, "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!"

The problem with comparison is that we often start feeling inferior about ourself and begin viewing ourself as less than who God created us to be. God has written all of our stories, and they are each unique and special. No one's story is exactly the same, just as no two individuals are exactly the same. God laid out our lives so that His plan can be accomplished through us. We are each born at the exact time that God planned and during the time that He needed us here on earth. We have a purpose and He loves seeing us live out life the way He created us to do.

God never compares us to others, but sees us as individual treasures of His heart. When we fail to love and honor Him, because we feel inferior or unworthy or as if we aren't good enough, it's Satan who is whispering those lies into our mind. Satan wants us to feel as if we are failures and can't live an overcoming life for Christ. He wants to whisper our bad habits or sins into our heart and make us feel as if we don't deserve God's blessing and love. God never asks us to clean ourselves up before coming to Him, but just wants us to come as we are. As our relationship with Him grows and matures, He will take care of all those things that hold us back from fully surrendering to Him.

I pray that each of you will see yourself as the loved and special treasure that God cherishes. Don't compare yourself to anyone, but be who God created you to be! But, also, be willing to learn from others who are older and wiser and have more life experience than you do. Honor them and listen to their advice and stories. We can truly learn from each other, without comparing ourselves to them.

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

I had someone who found out I believe in God, and immediately accused me of thinking I was better than other people. He didn't know me, didn't know much about me, and didn't care to. He just assumed that if I believe in God, that made me think I was better. I didn't get the chance, but really wanted to tell him that I didn't think I was better than anyone else, and didn't even want to make that comparison at all. But I was better then than I had been before.

I don't mind comparing myself to who I used to be. I know as a pre-teen, I was quite a twit. I'm glad so many people put up with me as well as they did. But I'm sure I didn't make it easy. As time went on, I went through other times that made it difficult for others to be around me. I hope that I'm better now. I think I am. (I want to be careful to let you know I'm not inviting comments on that!)

More importantly, I have a better relationship with Jesus than I've had before. I have learned from mistakes in my past. I've learned to seek Jesus more, and to find Him. I've learned patience. I've grown in faith.

Those things don't make me better than anyone else. But they do make me better than I used to be.

ON THE MENEWE:

Coffee Punch

Combine instant coffee, water and sugar to make a coffee syrup in medium saucepan; cook until it comes to a boil.

Remove from heat; refrigerate until ready to use (30 minutes up to overnight).

To make punch:

Combine coffee syrup, milk, and ice cream. Stir, stir, stir!!

Punch becomes creamy as ice cream melts.

Makes approximately 2 gallons of punch.

**Note: I have not personally tried this, as I am not a coffee drinker and do not like coffee flavored things. But my nephew's wife has made this and thinks it is delicious. If you have coffee drinkers in your family or friends, this would be good for a party or get together.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

This story is from December of 2015. I love going back and reading stories about my sisters grandkids. I have forgotten many of them, until reading them again. I hope you get a chuckle out of this one!

This past Sunday my sister's two grandkids came to church with her. Abigail is 7 and Owen is 3. They sat with me and Jon during the time between Sunday School and Children's Church. Abigail had given Owen a piece of gum, which resulted in this conversation:

Me: Owen, don't swallow your gum. When you finish chewing it, give it to me to throw away.

Owen: I don't want to throw it away! I will just swallow it!

Abigail: Owen, if you swallow your gum then when you fart, a big bubble will come out of your bottom and it will shoot you into space!

Jon: I don't think it would shoot him that far!

Abigail: Well maybe not that high, but it would shoot him pretty high into the air! Then when the bubble popped, Owen would fall to the ground and could get hurt!!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

Pray without ceasing, because Satan is preying without ceasing. - TobyMac

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org