Posts Tagged ‘jelly’

Whether you like it or not, God can use you and your circumstances to teach someone else a powerful lesson about life, death and His plan for them. Some of us may shudder at the mere thought of anyone learning anything even remotely useful from our lives/circumstances, but I did say that God would be the one teaching, therefore all things are possible!

You can relax because He can use the simplest things in our lives. You don’t need to have a horrible past that you have over come or be a brilliant scientist who discovers a cure for an incurable disease. God can reach people just by the way you make your peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

When I first met Paul he was a young, vibrant, singer at our church. He had recently gotten married and he and his wife had their whole lives ahead of them. A few years later when I really got to know Paul, he had been diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” and had been living with it for about a year and a half.

My husband and I, were in a growth group from our church with Paul and his wife, and there story was an inspiration to all of us. Paul’s faith in the struggles they were facing was undeniable and contagious.

Once, Paul fell at home and his wife was at work, he couldn’t get back up or to a phone. When he shared this, the next evening at our growth group, someone asked, “What did you do for those hours while you waited for your wife to get home?” I will never forget his simple and direct answer. “I talked to God, sang hymns and took a nap.” He didn’t complain that he had to lay there and wait for help. As a matter of fact, he made some comment to the effect of “what else was I gonna do? I wasn’t going anywhere.” To have been able to look at all of our faces through his eyes that night must have been hilarious! Mouths open, eyes bulging, with shock and there were those moved to tears (not so pretty either).

When true, honest and pure, surrender and worship shows up like it did with Paul, it can take your breath away and you make really ugly faces! (This group did anyway!)

So, what is the Peanut Butter and Jelly about? During one of our growth group in depth discussions, the subject of how you like your PB&J came up. We could go really deep sometimes!! Paul was very opinionated about the correct way to make this American classic, jelly on one piece of the bread and peanut butter on the other, NEVER both on one piece of bread. I 100% agreed with him! I knew from then on I was really going to like this guy.

Our time in growth group together came to an end and I hadn’t spoken with Paul and his wife for some time before I heard of his passing. But this morning God woke me up early remembering Paul and the way he liked his PB&J! It brought a smile to my face and tidal wave of memories about Paul’s faith, wisdom and goofy nature!!!
On, February 17th, 2010 Paul left this earth and is eternally healed. He will be missed by so many but I thank God for using something little like, the PB&J to help me remember Paul’s true essence and heart for God.

Paul’s life is an inspiration for me on my journey. Paul trusted God and His plan for his life. I am still working on that. Thanks Paul, for your unshakable faith and great example of loving God in all things and circumstances.

1 Peter 4: 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.

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