Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

  • Home
  • About
  • DISCLOSURES
    • Amazon Affiliate
    • Book Reviews
  • Published
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • Commit Poetry
    • Dared

still saturday: unqualified

May 17, 2013 By Sandra Heska King

unqualified

click to enlarge

“Moses was past middle age when God called him to lead his children out of Egypt, and he spoke with a stutter. He was reluctant and unwilling and he couldn’t control his temper. But he saw the bush that burned and was not consumed. He spoke with God in the cloud on Mt. Sinai, and afterwards his face glowed with such brilliant light that the people could not bear to look at him.

“In a very real sense not one of us is qualified, but it seems that God continually chooses the most unqualified to do his work, to bear his glory. If we are qualified, we tend to think that we have done the job ourselves. If we are forced to accept our evident lack of qualification, then there’s no danger that we will confuse God’s work with our own, or God’s glory with our own.” ~Madeleine L’Engle in Walking on Water

Stilled and so not qualified,

Sandy

Where have you been aware of your own lack of qualification? Where have you seen God shine through you, work through you, well knowing that it was not you?

Welcome to Still Saturday where we pause after a busy week, move in quiet pilgrimage, maybe linger a while in some still place, and soak in the beauty of images and words. We’d love for you to join us. Get the details on the left, grab your favorite button, and link up below. We all love to hear if something especially speaks to your heart, but please don’t feel pressured to comment. Simply take some time to gaze long and drink deep.



Share this:

  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Filed Under: stories and reflections

Comments

  1. Sharon says

    May 17, 2013 at 8:46 pm

    Oh my dear friend. So often this is my struggle.

    I live in a world that wants to know my qualifications. What degree do I have to lead Women’s Ministry, to write, to teach, to lead, to mentor, or counsel? My answer is so often “God, He has prepared me before hand to do that which He calls me to do.” I was even told once that my answer was very sarcastic. ((sigh))

    I know it’s truth that I speak to my inner self and yet at times the voice of those around can be quite loud.

    Thank you for this reminder….

  2. April says

    May 18, 2013 at 12:32 am

    Sandra,

    I see it every day on my blog. Honestly. I constantly question how it is that my voice, my tiny voice that isn’t the best with words and isn’t the most knowledgeable of scripture, could possibly have anything to say as a Christian blogger. I am not qualified at all to be His voice to so many, yet I feel his calling to write all the same.

    Thank you for hosting Still Saturday. I’m so glad to be here this weekend!

  3. Lyli@3dLessons4Life says

    May 18, 2013 at 2:01 am

    I am reading through John right now, and this reminds me of that verse in John 3 where it says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

  4. Sheila Seiler Lagrand says

    May 18, 2013 at 8:16 am

    I’ve been planning my auntie’s memorial service for the past few weeks.

    Unqualified? Absolutely. Felt Him working through me? Oh, yes. Yes indeed.

    Thank you, Sandy, for this lovely post and for your gracious hospitality here every weekend.

  5. Mia says

    May 18, 2013 at 10:26 am

    Sandra, God works through broken vessels. Those that are bright and shiny don’t seem to need a good polish. You know, the “white-washed tombs” kind!
    God bless,dear one
    Mia

  6. Jen Ferguson says

    May 18, 2013 at 12:14 pm

    As someone who constantly struggles with pride and qualifications and wanting things to be just so…this both broke and healed my heart. I’m leaving up your post today so I can keep coming back to it and remember…it is not my qualifications but His.

  7. Carrie says

    May 18, 2013 at 12:15 pm

    I feel unqualified often…I reach for His strength every day as a mother. When I stop and ask for His help – and keep the focus on Him – I feel empowered to lead and disciple my children. Doing it alone is not an option! Have a blessed weekend!

  8. Martha Orlando says

    May 18, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    God worked mightily through me as I wrote my novel. I cannot count the number of times I would look back at something I had written and think, “I didn’t write that – God inspired it!”
    To Him be the glory!
    Blessings, Sandy!

  9. Rebekah@asoftgentlevoice says

    May 18, 2013 at 1:01 pm

    “Yes, so unqualified . . . and didn’t Paul say: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

  10. Jason Stasyszen says

    May 18, 2013 at 5:44 pm

    Definitely feel unqualified so much of the time, but I know that in my weakness His strength is perfected. It’s not always easy or comfortable, but it promotes dependence on Him. Great reminder, Sandra. Thank you.

  11. Courtney says

    May 19, 2013 at 6:13 am

    This is good to think about. It makes me feel much more accepting of my shortcomings!

  12. Patricia (Pollywog Creek) says

    May 19, 2013 at 6:59 am

    Beautiful encouragement here, my dear friend. xox

  13. Sara @ Embracing Destiny says

    May 19, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    So glad to have found you here. I needed this today! It is exactly the subject my husband and I have been discussing. Feeling that holy nudge right now to do something that seems too big to handle, but I need to remember that God is in control. Thanks for sharing this.

  14. Nina says

    May 19, 2013 at 4:53 pm

    In the mornings and evenings praying for His wisdom, patience, courage … in the evenings thanking Him for His guidance, faithfulness and being there all the time – during my mistakes / weakness / everything! – Seeking balance 🙂

  15. Laurie Collett says

    May 19, 2013 at 10:24 pm

    Praise God that He looks not for ability, but for availability! If He calls us to a mission and we answer the call, He will equip us and He will get all the glory! Thanks for the great post & for hosting & God bless!

Trackbacks

  1. Funny Husband Quotes about cooking | Laugh With Us Blog says:
    May 18, 2013 at 12:44 am

    […] linked with Still Saturday, Whole Hearted Wednesdays, Making Your Home Sing Monday and Miscellany […]

  2. Near to the Brokenhearted | The T2 Women says:
    May 19, 2013 at 5:08 pm

    […] with Spiritual Sundays, Still Saturday, Scripture and a Snapshot, the Sunday Community, Sunday […]

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Meet Sandra

I’m Sandra, a camera-toting, recovering doer who’s learning to be. still. Read more…

Get updates from the stillness by email

Your personal information is safe and will never be shared.

Archives

Categories

Instagram Inspiration

sandraheskaking

I’ve gotten several messages asking if things we I’ve gotten several messages asking if things were okay. Yes. I’ve recovered after 3 weeks in Covid jail. Also, I’ve been a bit scarce on social cuz we’ve been finishing up house renovations, and there is SO much that now needs to be cleaned and stuff put away. Also, we’ve had the second oldest grand with us for two weeks. I “should have” at least shared some stories about our adventures, but we’ve relished the time and kept busy. One can’t leave South Florida without a gator encounter, though, right? Tomorrow the two of us fly back to Michigan, and then I will spend a week with my sister where I expect I will be put to work in the chicken house and the gardens and become a glad(iola) roadside proprietor for a day at the Four Star in while she and my BIL attend a family reunion. I’ll also get to see my dad in the nursing home and spend a couple nights with my daughter. D will hold down the fort here. Then maybe by the first of next month, I’ll be able to finish putting things in order, breathe, find some writing space and get back to normal. Whatever that is.
I tossed and turned all night. And then the storm I tossed and turned all night. And then the storm started. I finally got up about 5ish and sat outside to watch. Until a couple mosquitoes found me. Also, the jasmine hadn’t gone to bed yet and smelled heavenly.
Sunday evening. That is all. Sunday evening. That is all.
“The news is not and never has been, because it “The news is not and never has been, because it doesn’t talk about the small moments. Moments that matter to individuals, whatever they do or do not do in the grand scheme of things. And it is in those individual moments that belong to people, that deserve to be faced and remembered as much as every big, world-changing disaster. And nature, because it exists in the details, is too easy to elide, even when trying to talk about it.” ~ Sara Barkat in her introduction to Earth Song: A Nature Poems Experience
🍃
I had to look up “elide.” It’s not a typo. 😊
🍃
Sara goes on to write, “The structure of this book is that of a piece of music. The poems are to be read in order…”
🍃
The first poem she includes is Sara Teasdale’s “Lost Things” that starts, “”Oh, I could let the world go by / It’s loud new wonders and it’s wars / But how will I give up the sky…”
🍃
Good morning sky. Good morning moon. Good morning little bird flying to the moon. Good morning red bottlebrushes nodding in the breeze. It’s good to emerge from this Covid fog. Day 10.
“Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous to “Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous to be understood. . . Let me keep company always with those who say “Look!” and laugh in astonishment and bow their heads.” ~ Mary Oliver in “Mysteries, Yes”
🌱
No way could anyone ever convince me that this world in all its beauty and creativity and mysteries is here by accident.
Food truck night with a newcomer—@crepstick. So Food truck night with a newcomer—@crepstick. So yummy! I hope they come back.  But maybe not too often or I’ll have to do double time on the exercise.
“Embrace this day knowing and showing the world “Embrace this day knowing and showing the world that your God is more than enough for you.”
🌿
@tamiheim @tonibirdsong 
In @stickyJesus: How to Live Out Your Faith Online
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the str My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion.” Psalm 73:26 (ESV)
🌿
I’d almost forgotten what quiet mornings on the patio were like. (Quiet except for the birds and the sound of the neighbor’s AC.)
So yesterday I saw my cardiologist. It was the fir So yesterday I saw my cardiologist. It was the first time he wanted to see me in 6 months instead of a year. He said my aortic stenosis had gotten worse. Like on the cusp of moderate to severe. 😬

So the first thing he asks me is, "How's you daughter?" Wait. Isn't this supposed to be about ME?

Then he asks if I've had any symptoms. "Well, I don't know. Maybe. I felt a little dizzy out of the blue a couple times. And felt like I couldn't catch my breath. I wouldn't have paid any attention if I didn't know I was supposed to be watching for symptoms. I DID walk all over Israel and up a bunch of steep hills, even all the way up to the Golan Heights--against the wind--without anything but normal fatigue.

He laughs. "I created a monster." Ummm, yeah.

"Have you been exercising?" 

"Well, yeah. We walk a couple miles a day. I'm back on my Nordictrack Strider." I didn't tell him I'd been lifting some light weights and some very heavy boxes and other items during this renovation, though I was told in December not to.

So he listens to the beating of my heart. Then he says, "Well, I don't think the valve is ripe yet. I don't expect you to have symptoms for three or four years. You don't need to come back for a year."

Wait! So you ask if I have symptoms. But you don't expect symptoms--yet. And when I do have symptoms, someone is gonna do something. And then I'll be older and maybe weaker. Or what if I have some sudden and silent symptom and boom! And now I have to worry about that. 

(In other news, my oldest grand texts me the other day, and our conversation runs like this... (continued in comments)
Last weekend we were in northern Michigan. And the Last weekend we were in northern Michigan. And there were lilacs. They even shook their heads over tornado-induced devastation. Look for the beauty and sweet scents in the midst of the mess. I miss the lilacs.
Yesterday’s morning view. We haven’t seen the Yesterday’s morning view. We haven’t seen the sun all day today.
When the folks in my hometown of Gaylord, Michigan When the folks in my hometown of Gaylord, Michigan ate their breakfast Friday morning, they had no idea what terror and devastation they'd face before dinner. Everyone has a story. You've probably seen pictures.

If not, take a peek at @mlivenews .

My great-nephew, not quite 12, had just gotten home from school when the EF-3 came down the street and left its mark on every home. My niece frantically tried to find her way from work through debris and blocked roads. My sister was 30 miles away visiting my dad in rehab. I don't want to know how fast my brother-in-law drove. 

The house and yard took a hit, worse than some, not as bad as others. A mobile home park was demolished--two deaths there. I heard one person is still missing. So many injured. So much awful. But the town is coming together for each other. Pray for them.

We plan to fly up Thursday--already planned to celebrate my dad's 95th birthday. 

Also, if anyone feels led to help, the Otsego Community Foundation and Otsego County United Way are accepting donations. Note “Tornado Relief.” Beware of any other fundraising requests.
Cutting tonight’s walk short. Stupid blue jay. N Cutting tonight’s walk short. Stupid blue jay. Not this one. A different one. But still. (My niece believes blue jays are a visitation from Grandma—my mom.) 
My shirt says “Walk in love. But I’m not feeling very loving. And if it WAS my Mom AKA Mother Mary Esther of the Order of Perpetual Birdwatchers, I’ll bet she’s having a good laugh. A passerby said she heard it was good luck and I should buy a lottery ticket tonight. In other news, I also banged my hip bone against our bed’s footboard and gave myself a mighty bruise. Then I burned my arm on the top of the grill. I did manage to wash all the knives without cutting myself and didn’t start any fires. So how was your day?
And now… “From the rising of the sun to the pl And now… “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”
The world’s a mess, but His mercies are new. The world’s a mess, but His mercies are new.
When we were in Israel last month, we visited @yad When we were in Israel last month, we visited @yadvashem - the World Holocaust Center in Jerusalem. There wasn't enough time to spend nearly enough time. 

The Valley of the Communities was very moving. It's a labyrinth of stone from which there seems no way out. Our guide said It gives an idea of the endlessness of the horror. His parents emigrated from Vilna (the Jerusalem of Lithuania), before the Holocaust. In 1935, thirteen of his family members still remained there. By 1945 only one--an uncle--had survived. He wrote a book about them from a bundle of old letters. "One story out of millions."

"This memorial commemorates the Jewish communities destroyed by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, and the few which suffered but survived in the shadow of the Holocaust."
#Israel2022 #HolocaustRemembranceDay
“From my favorite spot on the floor, I look up a “From my favorite spot on the floor, I look up at the blue sky and the bare chestnut tree on whose branches little raindrops shine, appearing like silver, ” Anne Frank wrote in the Diary of a Young Girl. Watching the tree change through the seasons her family spent in hiding in an attic gave her hope. The Holocaust Memorial Center is one of only eleven sites in the United States to receive a sapling from that tree. I stand at “her” window and imagine hanging hope on a tree.

"It happened, therefore it can happen again: this is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen everywhere.” ~ Primo Levi

From a post I wrote for @tspoetry after a visit to the @holocaustcenter.

https://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2016/07/27/regional-tour-holocaust-memorial-center-farmington-hills-michigan/
Stunning tree I parked near at Bible study yesterd Stunning tree I parked near at Bible study yesterday. I was in a rush and failed to snap the whole tree. I need to run back before the flowers fall. I think it’s a jacaranda? I want one.
Speaking of birds... bluejay in my backyard this a Speaking of birds... bluejay in my backyard this afternoon. I thought he was hurt, but I think he was just trying to cool off. (Maybe it's a young one.... unless it's the light?)
Someone should do something about that dog. She’ Someone should do something about that dog. She’s yelping and carrying on like she’s in some awful pain.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Get the Mug

Embrace the life you have t s poetry mug

Privacy Policy

Full privacy policy is available HERE.

I Read Light

TSP-Red button

bibledude-net



Sponsor a Child

Join the Compassion Blogger Network

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2022 Sandra Heska King · Site by The Willingham Enterprise, LLC on the Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Log in