Part 4 of 8, You're half-way there...

Good morning! Hopefully after reading part 3 you've taken at least a moment to sit and talk, or pray, or read with Jesus. Not only does it benefit you, but He misses you when you aren't together. He loves you. If you haven't had time to do that yet, take a minute now...I'll wait...

Moving along on this tour of Jesus' new home, he asks if you have a workshop. Out in the garage, there's a workbench, a few tools, some equipment, but being so busy, you really haven't had time to do much out there. You play around out there once in a while, maybe create a gadget or two, but nothing substantial.

Jesus follows you out to your workshop. He takes a look at the "tools", the skills and talents you have laid out on your workbench. He tells you you've got a fairly good amount of things to start with. Then he asks what you hoped he wouldn't, "What are you producing with your life for God's kingdom?" He picks up a few of the small trinkets and toys you've made in the past and asks, "Is this the sort of thing you've been doing for others with your Christian life?"

You know, you felt pretty good when you managed to make those things. You didn't think you could even do that - but you steadied on and produced something of value. But now, you start to feel a bit guilty. You know if you'd been out here more often, tried a bit harder, you probably could have made so much more with what you have available. You start to explain that you know it doesn't look like much, but my abilities are limited. You tell Him how you feel awkward in circumstances outside your normal comfort zone. You doubt you could do as well as others you've seen. You try comparing your faults to others' strengths and feel just awful.

Then Jesus stops you. He looks at you with more compassion than you expected. He doesn't tell you to stop making excuses. He realizes your inner struggles, puts an arm around your shoulder, quiets your soul, and says, "Would you like to learn how to do better?"

Astounded by this unconditional love, you reply that of course you want to do better! Jesus reminds you, "Remember what I taught you, apart from me, you can do nothing. Come over here to the workbench and just relax - allow my Spirit to work through you. You may be yet unskilled, clumsy and awkward, but through my Spirit, you'll be amazed what you can really accomplish."

You surrender all your feelings and emotions and agree to let Jesus' Spirit work through your heart, your head, and your hands. Jesus puts His hands under yours, you feel confidence in His arms around you. He picks up the tools and begins to work. "Relax, you're still too tense," he jokes, "let me do the work!"

You experience wonder and amazement as you see all your own hands are creating and producing when you allow Him to control the way they work. There's still much to learn, but realize how much better you can do for God's kingdom with the help of the Master Builder.

So don't be discouraged at what you haven't done before, our own abilities aren't important, it's what we can do when we allow Christ to do what He wants with us and our skills we've been given. You'll be surprised at all the two of you can do together!