How does my resume look? Am I qualified? Can God really use me if I am just a NOBODY with nothing to offer? What if my self-esteem is in the DIRT of my Monday - Friday RUT where I deem myself too poor, dumb, and insecure to make a difference for God. Oh sure I attend church most every Sunday, Men's bible study on Wednesday, and my wife and I even host a Small Group bible study every other Sunday night.. but what difference does any of that make? Who am I? I am NOBODY. Even my career path now seems to be careening through life in hopes to not break anything. I am a former computer programmer who then owned a sports officials management business. Then a couple years ago I sold the sports biz and since then I have not figured out exactly what I want to do when I.. grow up or retire.. whichever comes first. And this whole cartooning passion I have is not what I would call a successful 'get rich quick' scheme or a cash cow. Don't get me wrong, I am not lazy. I have worked jobs in the past, and will again as needed to make ends meet. I have even been the PAPER BOY (for God?) delivering the daily newspaper. Then to further assault my self esteem not so many years ago I received actual US mail declaring I was nobody. Well, actually worse than nobody.. the letter said I was DEAD. This letter was from my bank addressed to Jeffrey DEAD Larson instead of Jeffrey DEAN Larson. I am not sure if that was a typo or a snarky comment on my personal credit so I did quick check my pulse, and good news.. I was not dead. I was still a NOBODY, but a living breathing NOBODY. So I turn to God's word for encouragement and inspiration in hopes to find a glimmer of hope that I am not a NOBODY, but rather a somebody. I was quickly reminded of great Bible somebody's. A few of the who's who in God's word.
By God using these very flawed men to serve him in great ways it demonstrates it has always about God's message and not the messenger.... so maybe there is hope for a NOBODY like me. NOBODY(s) for JESUS.. sounds more like a label for a Christian support group than a battle cry to serve God. Can't you hear our Battle Cry? Who are we? nobody. louder.. NOBODY! The mighty mighty.. Nobodys? Who am I without God anyways? BUT an equally good question is.. WHO AM I WITH GOD? What is possible? This is not to say God will use me to part any Red Seas, raise any dead, or become the Billy Graham of Christian cartoons, .. but I believe if I am willing, God will bless and use me in ways that are beyond what I could dream. The one thing I am daily reminded is.. this life is not about me. It is about loving God with all my heart soul and mind and caring for others. To be faithful in the moments presented to me each day and then God can and will use me in little subtle ways for sure, and who knows maybe in big ways. I am sure there is a sea that needs parting somewhere. May God bless and use each of you as you are faithful to HIm in ways that are always beyond our dreams and all that God intends. Have a great day. Smile lots.. and enjoy life! Jeff (NOBODY) Larson 1/23/2018 08:14:33 am
Even my pastor says 'Keep the stuff you write away from here.' But GOD says, by the mail I get, 'You are on track, doing what I want and your ministry has reached 10 x what you thought it would. Keep going! Ignore him!'
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Jeff
1/23/2018 08:31:59 am
Hi Rich, Thanks for writing me. Sorry, but I am not sure what you are telling me. Does your pastor not like what I write? If so, why?
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Barbara Reese
1/23/2018 09:16:14 am
I want to send monthly support so went to that page, but it says $3 and I want to donate $5 but could not change the amount.
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Jeff
1/23/2018 09:32:30 am
Hi Barbara, there should be a drop down to choose from. I will double check and get back to you shortly.
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Jeff
1/23/2018 09:35:12 am
Hi again, did you go to the page https://www.thebackpew.com/givingsupport.html ?
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AuthorThe mutterings on life and faith by cartoonist Jeff Larson Archives
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Back Pew - Draw Close to God
My Book- 116 pages of cartoons of 'Clean Humor & God's Truth' CRITICS ARE SAYING.
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1/22/2018
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