Publisher's Desk

The following inspirational message was given to me by Kate Holliday more then 20 years ago. It was written by Colbert T. Holliday, an uncle of Harry Holliday:

The Lord said, “What is that in your hand?”

“A rod,” Moses replied.

And the Lord said to Moses, “Cast it on the ground.”

When he cast it on the ground, it became a serpent and Moses fled before it.

Then the Lord said, “Put out your hand and take it by the tail.” When Moses did this, it became a rod in his hand.

This account in Exodus 4 is given to us to show God’s preparation of Moses for leadership of the children of Israel. The only equipment was the rod; in fact, the Lord’s command was, “Take this rod in your hand, and they will believe in you.” Moses took the rod.

In Exodus 14, God said to Moses, “Lift up your rod, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it--and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.”

Later, when the children of Israel complained to Moses because there was no water in the desert, he struck the rock with the rod, and “water came out abundantly and the congregation drank, and also their beasts.” Of course, the rod in itself had no power in it, but when used by God, it became an instrument of His mighty power.

All of us have something in our hands. When given completely to our Lord, He can use it, multiply it, magnify it--to our surprise and to His glory.

In John 6:9, we read of a small boy’s hand; in it was his lunch, five loaves and two fishes. Given to Jesus, it fed 5,000 gathered on the sea shore, and 12 baskets full remained after they had eaten.

Then there was David, the shepherd boy, who had a sling and a pebble in his hand. With this, he felled the 10½-foot giant, Goliath.

“Little is much when God is in it”--the song goes.

“Such as I have, I give it.” A certain lame man was carried daily and laid at the gate of the temple, to ask alms of those who entered the temple. When he saw Peter and John entering, he asked them for alms. Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I give to thee.” He took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength, he stood and walked, leaping and praising God.

“What is that in thy hand, Dorcas?” A needle. With her needle, this Christian woman sewed clothes for the poor. When she died suddenly, an urgent appeal was sent to Peter. When he came, he “found many weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.” Peter, kneeling down, prayed, and took her by the hand and lifted her up and she was revived.

Our gifts differ greatly. Each of us can offer our talents in service to Christ and His church. A wise man said, “Remember, God does not hold us responsible for what we do not have, but He does hold us responsible for what we do have.”

We need only to say, as did Peter, “Such as I have, I give it.”

What is that in your hand, my friend?

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Publisher Helen Morris is now recuperating from knee surgery with her children, and is doing very well