Use the power…….

This weekend I was honored to, once again, share some photography programs with the great folks that attend the Wilderness Wildlife Weekend. These are wonderful people, very appreciative of anyone’s efforts to share with them. A man asked me after one of my presentations how I could be so calm while presenting. I said, “I’m a Christian and I trust God in all things, He is in control, anything you saw that you liked is from Him.”

This morning I got an email from my dear brother Chuck Summers, it contained a great story and message. So, this is my first guest blog from a guest, that didn’t know they would be a guest!!!!!

I hope this blesses you as much as it did me.

And thanks Chuck!

the pilgrim

The story has been told of a do-it-yourselfer who went into a hardware store early one morning and asked for a saw. The salesman took a chainsaw from the shelf and commented that it was the “newest model, with the latest technology, guaranteed to cut ten cords of firewood a day.” The customer thought that sounded pretty good, so he bought it on the spot. The next day the customer returned, looking somewhat exhausted. “Something must be wrong with this saw,” he moaned. “I worked as hard as I could and only managed to cut three cords of wood. I used to do four with my old-fashioned saw.” Looking confused, the salesman said, “Here, let me try it out back on some wood we keep there.” They went to the woodpile, the salesman pulled the cord, and as the motor went Vvvrooommmm, the customer leaped back and exclaimed, “What’s that noise?”

The customer trying to saw wood without the power of the saw to help him is very much like the believer who attempts to live the Christian life without the daily empowerment of the Holy Spirit. There is no way we can live the life Christ has called us to live in our own power or strength. Certainly the apostle Paul understood this. That is why he said, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Jesus taught the same thing. In John 15 he said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If you do not feel like you are accomplishing much for Christ, perhaps like the man with the chainsaw, you have not been utilizing the power that is available to you. Learn to abide in Christ and to allow the Holy Spirit to empower you for victorious Christian living. It truly does make a difference!

Dr. Chuck Summers

Photo Note: Image of me speaking by Sherelene Fortney with the D700, 16-85 AFS
VR lens