"Every wise woman buildeth her house; but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands" (Proverbs 14:1).

A few years ago a lovely Christian mother gave me criticism I deserved. I had preached a strong sermon on personal evangelism, pointing out every Christian's obligation to reach out and win others to the Lord. In the conclusion of the sermon, I tried to obliterate every excuse anyone might have for failure to lead others to Christ. The sermon needed to be preached, of course, as it still does. Only, apparently, I had been guilty of some unfair emphasis.

After the sermon, I was invited home with a lovely Christian family. The husband was completing his resident work as a medical doctor and had little spare time, but still, I might add, spent some of this time in our personal work program. The wife beautifully cared for their three lovely children. All of them were very young -one still an infant in arms - and required a lot of time.

During the meal, the wife asked if I remembered the Scripture: "For as his share is who goes down into battle; so shall his share be who stays by the baggage" (I Samuel 30:24). I confessed my ignorance and she gave the context of King David insisting that the home guard be rewarded equally with those who had the more obviously essential role of fighting in the front lines.

And then she shared a wonderful truth with me that I'm sure I already knew, but which is so easily forgotten. She mentioned that she felt taking care of her children, patiently teaching them the ways of God and His great values, looking for moments of readiness to gently re-track them when they get on the wrong track, was staying with the baggage. She went on to point out she often felt guilty for not doing more "church work" than she did, but that she felt her greatest ministry was being a dedicated mother.

My friend, all you need to say after listening to a needed reprimand like that is one word: "Amen." There are so many ways that we today stay with the baggage. There are so many inglorious tasks that need to be done for Christ and for which we probably will never receive much recognition. But may God help us to keep our eyes open for little things, seemingly unimportant, but necessary to the Lord's work. Today or tomorrow, there will be something you can say, someone you can help, or something you can learn, or something you can pray for, or someone you can teach -and you may be tempted to pass it by. It may seem so insignificant. But "stay with the baggage."

Special Note....
Our “Gospel Meeting” starts next Sunday. Please note that next Sunday’s schedule of services is as follows:

Bible Study........................ 9:30 am
AM Worship .....................10:30 am
Dinner-In-The-Annex ..............noon
Singing ..............................1:15 pm
PM Worship .......................2:00 pm

ALSO - Monday thru Wednesday we will meet at 7:00 pm for congregational singing with regular evening services starting at 7:30 pm.

March Calendars
The March edition of the Activities Calendar and Men To Serve List is available today in the foyer. PLEASE NOTE: Because of our Gospel Meeting, the Wednesday evening schedule of teachers, speakers and songleaders has been shifted down one week after March 9th. If you were scheduled in one of these duties, take note of this modified schedule on the March calendar.

A rule for each day -- let God do something through you each day. Every life is either a channel or a clog for the blessings of God. Christians need to have a sense of his presence and to know that is "God that worketh in you..."