Day 219 - People Are Dipsticks!

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 31

        

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

How many of us have ever thought of someone as a “dipstick”?  Come on…admit it, we may have used just the first half of that word:  “They are such a ‘dip’.”  We all have characterized someone as such in times past.   But have we used the term as Michael uses it in Day 219?  Good use of the word.

DAY 219

People are Dipsticks!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. --Galatians 5:22

A dipstick is used to check the level of oil in an engine. People are dipsticks! It is true, but not in the way we might think. The Holy Spirit is the lubricant of the believers’ lives; when fully lubricated we run smoothly, without friction, quietly, and calmly. When we are running in the flesh, God sends someone along as a dipstick to check the level of lubricant; it may be the driver that cuts in front of us, the rebellious child, the gabby lady at church, or the self-centered husband, but what they will find in us is frustration, anger, impatience, and hostility. We can think in the back of our minds, "They are such dipsticks!" They have been sent by God, and if we will but stop and see Him in the situation, we can turn to Him, acknowledging that we are short of the oil of the awareness of the Holy Spirit, and pray, "Father, fill me up!" He does, and we can thank God for those who came along and warned us we were running low on oil before we blew up.

Very simple.  Nothing so profound as to knock us off our feet.  But, oh so sweet.  I can start using the word “dipstick” to identify someone God has sent my way to warn me of impending danger…the danger of “blowing up.”  That’s an awesome thought and realization, isn’t it…”God has sent (them) my way.”  Wow!  Amen!

Another outstanding point by Michael: “the Holy Spirit is the lubricant of believer’s lives.”  Hallelujah!  God “sent.”  He sent us the sweet Holy Spirit for so many reasons, and this one is beautiful in moment-by-moment living.  I have Him to bring the peace, calm, assurance, guidance, and control…among other things (just check the list of the “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22 for starters!)…that makes living and interacting with people and circumstances SO COMFORTABLE and UNCOMPLICATED.  I like “comfortable and uncomplicated.”

Here’s an idea: let’s take a 3x5 card, carry it with us for 1 week…every time I recognize (or, should) a “dipstick” I write down the day, time, “person,” incident, and my response.  Should be interesting…  Well, amen.

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point              Green – IT, Incredible Truth         

Red – GP, Greatest Promises

Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

P. O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                                        936-559-5696