I was walking into the house one day and there was this little stem growing beside the house. I’m not sure if it was a flower or a weed, and it had these little berry things hanging off of it and so I had The Sweetheart take a couple of pictures. I was thinking ahead! I thought I could make something out of that for a post sometime. And last night it came in handy. You will see what I mean in a minute…don’t scroll ahead!

I thought of ME, and YOU, and our great Big God. What does He want from ME? What does He want from US? I feel like I have so little to give sometimes. I’m not flashy, fancy or flamboyant. I’m just ME.

I don’t make a great impact in this world, I’m not out saving hundreds at a time, building mega churches, writing self-help books, selling T-shirts with catchy one-liners…ugh…the more I think about what I am NOT doing the more depressed I get!

I’m sure you are thinking like I am. (You haven’t scrolled down yet, have you?)

We go to church, we give in the offering, we might even teach Sunday School, participate in extracurricular activities, the social aspect of the church. We even support our pastor and his wife, and help in any way we can. We train our children to love God with all of their heart, soul mind and strength. But it just doesn’t seem like enough. We are running on empty, our days are so full, so much to do, so little time to do it. There just are not enough hours in the day.

So Lord, what DO You want from ME? This simple little stem with the little berries is embarrassing, kind of like good ole’ Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. I hate to bring it before You. But I have nothing else left, I’m all give out.

And here comes the good part. Now…go slowly…for effect…

You know what He said?

You mean I don’t have to do all of those other things?

Yes, those are necessary things; the Body of Christ needs US.

Our family needs US.

Our co-workers need US.

We still have to contribute to society.

We are NEEDED.

But God just wants US. He wants the best part, a heart that says, “Lord, here I am, use me. Whatever You have for me, whatever You want for me, I am Yours.”

“For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.” Psalms 51:16, 17 NKJV.

Simple? Yeah. Real Simple. We are the ones that make it difficult.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1, 2 NKJV.

He did the hard part at Calvary. It is finished.

No other debt has to be paid. He Simply Wants US…

Thank Him today that all He really wants is YOU and once you have surrendered yourself to Him, all of the rest will come. You will want to serve, to love, to give and to be Christ-like.

That’s what it’s all about.