Dear Faith Family,

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. Acts 17:24-25.

Her name?  Lucy (No, the names have not been changed to protect the innocent or guilty for that matter.).  She was rescued.  A street kitten.  She won the lottery when Cyndi adopted her.  Our house is her domain.  She is probably stretched out in front of the woodstove as I type.  I’ve discovered something about Lucy.  She is needy.  She has some health issues.  So, she gets special food.  Two kinds!  She even has special kitty litter.  I think she has more toys than I do (Tools don’t count!  They’re not toys.  They’re tools.  Insert a Tim the Toolman Taylor grunt here.)

Newsflash:  I, too, am needy!  Why did I have to have covid?  I’m convinced that one of the most precious and difficult truths that God was and is working into my life is that I am needy.  He is not.  Therefore, He does not need me.  I, on the other hand, need Him!

True confession:  2020 has been a very difficult year.  Who’s got time to relax?  The church needs love.  She needs direction.  She needs leadership.  She needs help to navigate these choppy waters.  How easy is it to forget, distort, or even twist the truth?  God, You need some help here.  And, luckily (don’t worry, I don’t believe in luck) I’m not needy (at least not much) so I can help You with Your needs.  Right?

Guess what?  Even though God has invested Himself in us and God does use us, He does not need us.  As my fever rose each afternoon, my neediness became very evident and my inability to be of help, painfully evident.

Ok, ok.  If we are needy and God is not, why does God: 1) call us to Himself and 2) call us to serve Him.  Or does He?  HE DOES!  Here’s the truth.  God does not call us because He needs us.  He calls us because He loves us.  Wow!  Let that settle in.  If God is needy, it diminishes His love for us.  That God is not needy demonstrates with greater vividness His love for us.

So, lying there on the sofa in front of the woodstove, was a place to soak in the warmth of His unadulterated love for me!

I needed that,
Pastor Karl