We’re studying through the gospel of Matthew this Sunday school quarter. As we begin each new book of the Bible I have a fresh appreciation for both the author and his writings. But even more, my appreciation includes God’s use of different personalities. As the Holy Spirit inspired these writers, He used the distinct individualism God graced us all with. For instance, at first reading Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life on earth might seem dry and boring. Not so! He was a tax collector – a record-keeper. His account gives facts with an eye to detail. Mark, a young man, roars through his account like a biker on the open road. You’ll notice frequent use of the word “immediately”. Luke, a physician, tells the story from a caregiver’s point of view, offering more of the human factor – more of what people felt. John’s account soars with the deity of Jesus. All four gospels state clearly, and in so many ways, Jesus’ Messiahship and divinity. As John the disciple tells us, if all Jesus did during His time here was written down, th earth would not hold all the books.

But we do have the treasure of God’s words to us – a tiny glimpse of all the many things He did from the beginning to the establishment of the church. And it is a joy, a privilege and an awesome responsibility to be called to lead others in a study of His word. This year I’m staying a week ahead of the lessons. Each week I hand out a study guide with questions and scriptures that are not in their Learner books. Some use these guides; some don’t. A few actually “study” and some just read the lesson on Sunday mornings before they come to class. Whatever the case, I want to at least provide them with some extra material to use if they so desire.

A teacher knows she’s called when she has the burning desire to share all she learns with everyone around her. That’s how I feel. And it’s not just about teaching. The whole process is a learning experience for me: I learn from my studies and I learn from my ladies. And there’s always a surprise, a nugget of something valuable that God has hidden for us to find. He graces me with more than my heart can hold and He is worthy of my praise.

Life is sometimes overwhelming when you live where the buck stops. Sandwiched between employees and upper management, those of us in the middle can really feel the squeeze. This has been borne out in the lives of family, friends and my own personal experience over the last few months.

On the one hand, I’m so thankful to have a job – a calling, really – where my abilities find a home and where I can help others. On the other hand, the person in the middle gets all the complaints and none of the credit. And where’s the support? Is it true that everyone is out for #1?

So how do we survive this pressure? As I’ve been praying about it, the first thing that comes to mind is this: My worth is not found in the voices of those on either side of me; my worth is based in Jesus Christ, Who is my Lord and Savior. And it’s really not “my” worth; it’s His. It’s only mine because He graces me with worth.

Second, God is in control. Easy to say; hard to understand. But the truth revealed throughout scripture is that nothing happens in His creation without His express consent. God can change the hearts of our enemies; He can hold us tight and teach us lessons while we go through the storms; He can test our dependence on Him; and He can answer with a greater “yes” than we ever imagined.

Knowing that God is in control and that my worth is bound up in His worth frees me. He will do what is best for me, tough as it may seem at the time. My responsibility in all this is to glorify Him in every circumstance.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

The weeks before and after a holiday are always crazy at work. Everyone is anxious to get a long weekend; then they wish it had been longer. Add to that the fact that the office air conditioner went out and it was 89* in my office for two days with no fan. Got a fan and the air conditioner repaired about the same time. Oh, yeah, the 89* temp was up from the normal 86* is has been in my office this summer when the AC was working. Meltdown!

Terry & I have started a little tradition this summer that we’ve enjoyed. Most afternoons when we get home from work we cut a watermelon (or take the other half out of the fridge) and dig in before supper. We don’t eat a lot (who needs the tummy ache), but we sit where it’s cool & share the day. He has spoiled me by cutting out bite-size pieces for me. We had a few watermelons in a patch at his sister’s house, but the weirdest thing was the voluntary vine that came up under our bedroom window and grew out over our patio. There were a couple of tiny watermelons on the vine, but we also had one at 55 pounds and another larger than that which he didn’t weigh. (Sounds like the fish that got away, doesn’t it?! But other people saw these melons & will testify.)

Our chief chef has been at my house cooking. Laurie is enjoying having all the boys in school. Carter goes to kindergarten every day, and Aaron & Marcus go to preschool Tuesday & Thursday. Those days give her a much-needed respite and some special time with Marlee. Anyway, cakes and pies await me, as well as spinach artichoke dip. Let me tell you….NO ONE can make spinach artichoke dip like Laurie can. Oh drat, every stinkin’ bit of this has lots of calories and loads of fat, but if I divide it up in tiny pieces to dole out sparingly, I can continue the slow pace of weight loss.