A determined soul will do more with a rusty monkey wrench than a loafer will accomplish with all the tools in a machine shop.

Robert Hughes

Every project that I seem to dream up in this house or on this farm, I know my farmer husband can make it happen. That doesn’t mean that he always wants to do it or that he agrees to do it. I have been banned from watching any DIY shows or videos. He does always have one comment when it is something that he agrees to do. That comment is, “Hmmm, that’s probably going to involve buying some new tools.” Are you serious?? I’m sure my farmer has three of every tool imaginable. What else could he possibly need? Invariably this leads us to a trip to the lumber yard and/or the tool store.

Give us the tools, and we will finish the job.

Winston Churchill

Many times, through these 50 years, I have been the farmer’s gopher. That means that I stand ready to go for whatever it is he needs. I lost my job for a few years when he had sons at home to help him or even when the daughter could help. But now they have all gone onto their own adventures and I am once again the designated gopher. One day last week I was on duty again. The farmer had his head under the fender of the pickup, and he needed me to gopher a flashlight. When I got back with it, I tried to hand it to him, but he didn’t look to see where I was with it. This is when the teacher in the farmer came out once again and he carefully explained something to me. When he and the boys were working on equipment around the farm or repairing windmills and he needed a tool, they understood that they were to slap that tool into his hand. This was so that he didn’t have to take his eyes off the piece that needed mending and he didn’t have to reach for the tool. This way he knew exactly where the tool was that he needed so desperately. (Just a side note. I have never measured up to be the kind of help to him that his sons were.) But that’s ok. He likes me anyway. He is a very good teacher and may have missed his calling for teaching instead of farming.

Man is a tool using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all.

Thomas Carlyle

For everything that we need to accomplish and every job that we’ve been called to do we need the proper tools. I’ve learned this from the farmer. God has a plan and purpose for our lives. He has projects that we need to accomplish. He would not send us out to do His good work without the proper tools. He has placed all the tools we need, to do His plan into our hands. He has fully equipped us. Our Lord and Savior does not call the equipped, but he equips the called. He has given us the proper tool, the perfect gift, the words to say, and we lack nothing. This is not in ourselves but because of Jesus. Many times, I have hesitated because I didn’t think I had the gifting to do His bidding, or the tool to finish the project but the Lord slapped it into my hand so that I would know that the gift was at my fingertips. All I had to do was put it to use. I needed to be the Lord’s hands and feet. I needed to be the one to move, to just do it.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all time, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

1 Peter 4:10

May our prayer be:

Lord, help us to use the tools that you have given to us, and to put them to work to bless and encourage others, and to accomplish the work you have for us to do. May we see meaningful fruit in our labors for you. May we have the full ability to complete and finalize all the tasks you have for us to accomplish. Help us Lord to keep our eyes on you and to hear your voice and be guided by your hand. In Jesus name. Amen

Happy 2023!! The tools you need for a productive year have been placed in your hands.