THAT ONE!

I went for a walk in the woods the other day, and while I was walking I was praying. I was thanking Jesus for everything He has done in our lives.

As I walked, I saw a little rusted out tin can in the grass of this beautiful woods. I felt the Lord say, "Go pick that up."

Well, I really wondered, "was that you speaking Lord?" but I walked by it. After passing the can the Lord again spoke, "why didn't you obey me and pick up that can?"

"This is silly" I thought, but then that check in my heart made me wonder..."Lord, if that is you asking me to pick it up...I don't want to ignore." So I turned around and went back to pick up the rusted out can.

I was carrying with me a plastic bag for my Bible, journal and a water bottle, so i stuck the can in there. As I continued on I wondered, "IF that was you asking me to pick up the can...why? Why did you want me to do that?"

I began to imagine all the reasons why God would ask me to pick up a rusted can. Maybe someone would have gotten hurt, or maybe He just wants me to be a good example to the Mongolians, to care for creation....hmmm

Then I began to see other pieces of garbage along the way. I picked them up one by one, putting it into my plastic bag.I began feeling pretty good about myself, I was cleaning up the earth!

Eventually I was nearing the end of my journey and my plastic bag was almost bursting through with garbage. I was a little tired and kinda getting grumpy by now. It seemed that everywhere I turned there was garbage to clean up. Just when I thought I was finished, I saw a whole pile of junk in the grass before me. "Oh brother!" I thought. "I'll need another bag for all this." I bent over to pick up a milk box and something poked my leg. It was the original rusted out can. The bag had become so full it ripped, and the can was sticking out.

"NICE" I thought, "I'm out here just trying to do what God wants me to do."

That's when I heard Him speak again.

The Lord spoke to my heart, "I didn't tell you to pick up all the trash in the forest..just that one."

I started to laugh.

"Ok, I get it Lord."

He began to show me, this was very important to my ministry here in Mongolia. He showed me that the reason he asked me to pick up the tin can was to help me understand this concept of ministry.

All around me are hurting, hungry, desperate people. I can not pick them all up. If I try...my bag will burst, and someone will end up hurt (mainly my own family).

However, our Great Lord Jesus WILL show us who to help, (I want you to pick up THAT ONE)...and then GO and do it...and do only that!

I could stay up 24 hours trying to get it all done, and feel I haven't even made a dent. Yet when I follow HIS leading, I feel so much has been accomplished.


I looked pretty weird, emerging through the woods with a big bag full of trash. I had to hold it kinda pieced together until I found a can big enough to dump it in. I realized that God is a great teacher...and I think He enjoys watching us learn.

Psalm 141:5

Let a righteous man strike me. Its a kindness. Let him rebuke me; it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse.