Exploits | Breakfast For Your Soul

EXPLOITS!

Written by FAVORED1 on January 6, 2010 – 3:16 am -

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

… the people that do know their GOD shall be strong, and do exploits.

[Daniel 11:32]

Good Morning Beloved,

This verse has been lodged in my heart all week long. “Exploits” is defined by Merriam-Webster as, “a notable or heroic act”. Exploit is one of those interesting words that can have negative or positive connotations. It can be used productively, example: “exploiting our talents for the good”. It can also be used to “make use of meanly or unfairly for one’s own advantage”… “exploiting the talents of someone else” . It seems reasonable to me that the person who “knows” God, intimately will do wonderful exploits for God. Remember “with God all things are possible to them that believe”. “All things are possible through Christ who strengthens us”. Exploits. Sounds super-hero like. It is. The dictionary confirms that we can be ’heroic’, our God is “super”. An interesting characteristic of a hero is that they don’t really believe they are a hero. We are surrounded by heroes who have done exploits … and they would be the last person to tell it. The pastors that have gone above and beyond pastoral care. Pastors like mine (Bishop Cornell and Angela Hughes) who have taught parishioners and non-parishioners alike how to drive, taken them into their home when they had nowhere to go, babysat their children so that they could work, driven miles out of their way to help someone in distress, sat in hospitals, funeral homes, courtrooms and jails, as well as attending High School Graduations and officiating weddings. Teachers who lovingly try to infuse their students with a love for knowledge and learning. Parents who without any previous relevant experience, manage with the love of God to raise children to be kind, generous, productive members of society. Grandparents/Aunts/Uncles/Siblings/Cousins/Family Friends who have had to take on more active roles in child rearing for all sorts of reasons ranging from death to job constraints. The work may seem “grungy” at times, but the Bible says, “be not weary in well-doing for you shall reap if you faint not”. God is faithful. He sees. Even when all hell seems to be breaking out around us… we see from scripture that we are in good company. Many of our biblical brothers and sisters were ‘ordinary’ folks, plucked out of obscurity and placed in the Holy Word of God. Rahab was a prostitute who was only trying to save her family and ended up in the lineage of the Messiah! David was a little shepherd boy who became the sweet psalmist of Israel and the greatest King they ever had. He also had the honor of Messiah coming through his lineage. His son Solomon was born into a situation reminiscent of relationships we see on the daytime talk shows of our day. His married mother, slept with the king/man of God and ended up pregnant, king tries to trick the husband into having sex with his wife to cover it up, when that plan fails, said king sends the poor unsuspecting fellow into battle carrying orders for his own death! Afterward, king marries the grieving widow, baby is born… baby dies. The king comforts his wife and Solomon is conceived…. WHEW! Can you imagine the talk not only around the kingdom, but within Palace walls. The rivalries, jealously, anger and pettiness that must have been found there. Yet the Bible says that God LOVED Solomon. He blessed his reign with peace on every side and gave him wisdom that is unparalleled… even to this day. Exploits… wonder what exploits we can accomplish today? With God “all things are possible”, which means “NO THING” is impossible…