EXCUSES

Posted on September 16, 2020 by oneta hayes

oneta 2019

(Edit and copy from four years ago.)

Long ago and not so far away, there was a Sunday School Superintendent (Leon Crosswhite) who needed a SS teacher. He asked me if I would teach. I told him I would not. So he said, “Will you pray about it?” I responded, “No, I don’t want to teach, so why would I pray about it.” Not one of the greatest stories in my life! But one I remember as I read about Moses’ excuse making with God.

When God called Moses, he did not find an eager vessel! Moses’ excuse #1, “I’m not important enough for that job!” God’s support: “But I Am. I AM will be with you.”

Moses’ excuse #2 “I have no authority; why will Pharaoh listen to me?” God’s answer, “Let me demonstrate.  Presto!  Moses’ rod became a snake.  A “presto” again, his hand became leprous.  God did a couple more miracles by undoing his two miracles.  Now wouldn’t you think that might convince you?

Moses is still not convinced. Excuse #3, “But I can’t talk.” He is trying God’s patience! Now I know many of you do not think you can try God’s patience, but Ex 4:14 says “the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses” so I do think he gets upset about our excuses and lack of obedience.  Just imagine—God and his miracles, but that’s not enough! God answers, “I know you’re not a great speaker. Haven’t I made you the way you are – even with speech problems.” But again God agrees to give him help in the form of Aaron, Moses’s brother. Moses is to tell Aaron what to say and God will help both of them.

Benjamin Franklin said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” Whee, I’m glad God is my judge rather than dear ole Ben.

And I’m thankful for forgiveness, and Brother Crosswhite. Sorry, Leon. Along the line I’ve reaped what I sowed.

About oneta hayes

ABOUT ME Hello. To various folks I am Neat’nee, Mom, Grandma Neta, Gramma, Aunt Neta, Aunt Noni, Aunt Neno, and Aunt Neto (lots of varieties from little nieces and nephews). To some I’m more like “Didn’t you used to be my teacher?” or “Don’t I know you from someplace?” To you, perhaps, I am a Fellow Blogger. Not “fellow” like a male or a guy, but “fellow” like a companion or an adventurer. I would choose to be Grandma Blogger, and have you pull up a chair, my website before you, while I tell you of some days of yore. I have experienced life much differently than most of you. It was and is a good life. I hope to share nuggets of appreciation for those who have gone before me and those who come after me. By necessity you are among those who come after me and I will tell you of those who came before. Once upon a time in a little house on a prairie - oops, change that lest I commit plagiarism - and change that “house on the prairie” to “dugout on the prairie.” So my story begins...
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5 Responses to EXCUSES

  1. Faye says:
    September 16, 2020 at 4:25 pm

    Thank you. Great lesson here. BLessings!

    Reply
  2. pranabaxom says:
    September 16, 2020 at 7:27 pm

    You refused to teach Sunday school🙄

    Reply
    • oneta hayes says:
      September 16, 2020 at 11:19 pm

      oooo. Let’s not talk about it anymore. I have a little Bible here right now that those folks gave me when I moved out of town and could no longer go there. On the inside it says, “Please accept this as a small token of our love and appreciation for the many years of faithful service to our Sunday School.” I was there for thirty years so I guess I must have repented and got to helping someplace along the line. 😀 Truthfully I found that I liked teach as long as they were not the same age as I was teaching in school five days a week. First graders are an absolute joy, but five days a week is enough already! So I get get a change by teaching sixth grade in SS. But on that occasion with Leon I was just being ….well my Christian spirit was showing. I followed Leon as SS Superintendent then I had to find teachers; that’s when I reaped what I sowed. Oh, I did talk about it some more, didn’t I.

      Reply
      • oneta hayes says:
        September 16, 2020 at 11:25 pm

        Pranab, the little Bible was given to me in 1982. You see, I did have feelings for those people. I just had to walk across the room to get it. I have another note in it. I wrote, “To Alayna, your writing is on pages 804 and 259. You are such a precious darling. Jesus loves you and I do to” So Alayna will get the Bible when I’m gone. In her little printing, she responded “I love you to Grandma, you to Jesus! I love U. Pranab, I have been blessed with so many good people in my life.

        Reply

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