July 25, 2011 Devotional

You Have What it Takes!

        
My husband, two boys and I moved to Oklahoma 6 years ago this month.  For the first time in 11 years of marriage we bought a house that had land and a tractor!  We thought it would be fun to experience a little bit of "farm life." It wasn't long before we had cows, ducks, chickens, lambs, horses, a rabbit, and of course, a dog.  I quickly realized I'm soft hearted toward ALL animals.

The first winter we had cows, and I distinctly remember standing at the window watching the snowfall, as my heart broke for those poor cows standing outside in the cold. I looked at my husband, tilted my head sweetly and asked if he could please put them in the garage.  Of course he looked at me like I had lost my mind and promised me they would be fine.

It was just a few days later that I started to worry about the ducks.  I thought, "Those poor ducks are out there in the cold water. They must be miserable! How will they survive?" Then I learned some interesting facts about ducks.  Their bodies produce a special kind of oil that covers their feathers.  The oil causes the water to roll off of them and they don't get wet.  Beneath these water proof feathers are fluffy soft feathers that keep them warm!  Their feet don't have any nerves or blood vessels so they don't feel the cold even in the icy waters.  Amazing!

As I was reading these facts I began to think about how good God is.  When He created ducks He knew how they would live and he equipped them with just what they needed for life.  I was reminded of the scripture in Matthew 6:26.  It says, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?"

If God put that much planning and preparation into what ducks needed, how much more thought did he put into what we need as women, leaders, and pastor's wives?  Psalm 139:16 says, "...all of the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

He knew you were going to marry the man you married, that you would live where you live, that you would have the children you have, and YES-- He even knew you would help pastor the people you pastor.  Just like the ducks, he equipped you and prepared you. He has placed inside of you ALL that you need to lead the life he has called you to lead. You have what it takes!  He made sure of that! He created you and equipped you for such a time as this!

Stephani Allred 

Journey Church  
Sallisaw, OK       
www.journeychurchonline.com