A Word from Ernie - In Ways We'll Never Know

Recently, I have enjoyed sharing e-mail exchanges with a very well-known author whom I have absolutely loved for years.  We’ve talked (via e-mail) about life, sports and, of course, music. Come to find out, one of his favorite songs is “Oh, What A Savior”!  Wow, who knew?!  We have both been a blessing to each other for years…in ways we’ve never known.

Then today, I prayed for him for the first time.  I thanked God for this man’s wonderful gift and sweet spirit.  I asked the Lord to “Wake him up!” and “Get about writing!”

I did this because I know how hard the creative process can be…it is trench work sometimes. Even sitting here writing this letter to you takes emotional effort.  If you’ve ever been drained to the core, you will know that it is more mental than physical. So, I prayed for him and ended my prayer with, “Lord, He does not even know how many people He touches, let alone the way He’s blessed me.  Encourage him and bless him and shake him up and help him to keep at it.” 

We all live our lives on two levels: conscience and unconscious.  The first is awareness that you are being used for God.  That’s great.  But greater still is the second level of living when you are unaware that you are being used at all: you’re just going about your life, doing what God has gifted you to do, just happy to be in the game; you’re so wrapped up in your secret and silent relationship with the Holy, Triune God that you don’t notice the trail of blessings you leave in your wake. 

Oswald Chambers says it best: “A saint is never consciously a saint – a saint is consciously dependent on God.”

The Apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God…for I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” (chapter 10, verses 31 & 33b)

When this (unconscious living) becomes our reality, then we are no longer “doing” acts of righteousness, but we are just “being” righteous in love, grace and kindness. Why? It’s because the resurrected Christ is working through us.  And when that happens, when we are out of the way, well, we are all being used in ways we’ll never know.  

Oh What A Savior!

Ernie