My friend, David Shaw, posted the following in response to the devotionals on the "God - Not Man" message. I'm only carrying one week of devotional thoughts at a time. When I delete the previous week's devotionals the posted comments also get deleted. David's words were so important I moved them over to the Sermon Blog because I didn't want to lose them.

He also makes reference to a message called, "Why Does This Surprise You?" (Wednesday, April 30) in which I defined "Prophetic Presence."

Phil,

I have long said that I don't want a job that is just something I do to get a paycheck, then go home at the end of each day or week. I also have said that my career does not define me - I am not simply what I do at work. I am an engineer by education, training, and profession. I want my work to be meaningful in this world (I want to be a part of designing energy-efficient buildings that people can use while responsibly using only the resources needed), but I also do many other things that are beyond and outside of engineering. I have also had problems with letting go and letting God have control of my life. It sounds too much like becoming a puppet who just does what someONE else makes me do as life comes along. I want some control over my destiny.

I'm beginning to see that, as a Christ follower, having a meaningful career and living for Jesus are not incompatible. I don't have to look at my job as just a job that supports my other activities. My career uses the gifts and talents that God gave me to do something meaningful in helping part of the world move forward, and the "other" activities and service I participate in also use God's gifts. The big part may be realizing that the payoff for what I do in any part of my life may be valuable for God's will in ways that I will never know. Simply knowing that I am part of God's work is more than enough. 

Sometimes the blessings I receive while helping are greater than any blessings I thought I could give. But I am beginning to realize more and more that I am not giving those blessings or service, I am a conduit for God. The blessings I give are actually God's blessings coming through me. The blessings I get from this are spillover as they come through. What more could I want?!

As I move toward giving more of myself to and for Jesus ("your will be done"), I find it easier and more desirable to become, not God's puppet, but God's hands, feet, and conduit for love. This sounds like the "prophetic presence" you talked about Wednesday night. Letting God do in, to, and through me, His will.

Mitch McVicker has a great song, "You Have Everything," that includes the line:
     "I'm your kid, so why would I think
      that I can become even more?"

I think that sums it up pretty well.

The chorus is:
     "'Cause you have everything.
      There's nothing you could ever need.
      There's only one thing I can give to you and that's me."

WOW!

Peace,

David

Wow is right! Thanks, Bro!