I am a firm believer that in life and in work and in all that we do, it demands excellence. I preach it to my staff on the pastoral team, I teach this to my staff at BeaverTails. I tell the pastoral team that if we do not do devotions, pray for our people, do our memory verses – what chance do the people we are meant to Shephard have? I tell my BeaverTails staff that before you serve our product, ask yourself if you would be happy to receive it. If you would be disappointed in receiving what you are about to serve, don’t serve it!
And although I truly believe that these are great characteristics to have and standards to uphold… we all have our off days.
Ever since Aunty Jessie shared her testimony, God has been highlighting a phrase she said that has disturbed my heart: “I have your hands, but I want your heart”. In the busyness of life and good things to do for the Lord – sometimes we forget that God really wants our heart, not just our hands.
I was reminded of a picture Justus drew at school when he was much younger:
As I looked at the picture – I thought to myself – this is absolutely terrible. The hair is not on his head, his arms are like wings, his body is shaped like a potato, feet have 2 rocks, and I have no idea what is coming out of the leg and rear-end. But as Justus gives me this picture, he says with joy and a smile – “look daddy, I DRAW you”!
I looked at this terrible picture and in my heart and every part in me, I am so happy because my son was thinking of me and did his best to draw his Daddy.
So often we forget that God really wants our heart. We think we can only give God what we are good at or only the most excellent of excellence. Sometimes we don’t give God because we simply thing we are just not good enough. But I really believe God loves anything and everything we give – as long as our hearts are set on Him.
No matter what it looks like – God will love whatever we give when we have our hearts on Him. Give your best to God – but your best is not found in your hand, your best is found in your heart.