The air care helicopter flew over my house as I headed to the kitchen for a second cup of coffee. I immediately started praying for the family, the patient and the medical staff treating him or her.

Every time I hear the helicopter I am transported back to April 15, 2010 when the patient was my father. Twice they lost him on that ride and twice they were able to revive him.

I pray for the family first because I can relate to them the most. I also know how the support of family keeps a patient fighting to stay alive. My mother and sisters were with him at the first hospital but I had to wait until my children drove home from work and school. We raced to Iowa City and beat the helicopter! He had family by his side until his death.

I have been totally housebound for six years now and once during my devotions I asked God, “Why?” A helicopter took off from the new hospital built a mile my home at that moment.

God told me one of the reasons was so I would always be available to pray when the helicopter was needed. When we go through difficult times God is always planning for it to be used in a way that will bring good.

Acts 8:1, 5, “…On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers).” “Philip [the deacon, not the apostle] went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the Messiah) to them [the people].”

“It was the deacon of that name, who comes next after Stephen in the catalogue of the seven, probably as being the next most prominent. The persecution may have been directed especially against Stephen’s colleagues.” Critical and Explanatory Commentary, Vol. II

God used the severe persecution as a way to start spreading the Gospel to the entire world.

“Tradition says he (the eunuch) was the first preacher of the Gospel in Ethiopia…” Critical and Explanatory Commentary, Vol. II

At the Ladies Retreat, they passed around rolls of toilet paper and told us to tear off what we thought we needed. Those who tore off long strips groaned when they were instructed to tell something about themselves for each square.

I tore off 4 squares, just like the commercial said was needed, and gave the names of my husband and three children. A lady in my group said, “That doesn’t tell us anything about you.”

It used to be easy. I would cite my job and the ministries I was involved in at church. But, just like today’s verse, that was all taken away.

Job 30:15, “Terrors are turned upon me; my honor and reputation they chase away like the wind, and my welfare has passed away as a cloud.”

My honor and reputation were tied up in my former job. Now all I can say is, “I am a child of God.”

As children we may have dreamed of becoming rich and famous. At class reunions we are tempted to make ourselves look important and successful, but Proverbs tells us otherwise.

Proverbs 12:9, “Better is he who is lightly esteemed but works for his own support than he who assumes honor for himself and lacks bread.”

I can describe myself as “lightly esteemed,” most of the time there is no esteem at all! Yet, I am in the company of the majority of the world. I work, or in my case write, every day and I do not lack bread.

“Many hands make light work.”

It is amazing when you consider the number of workers needed to hold a service every week. Most people do their job quietly, behind the scenes and without fanfare. It was interesting to me when I read how the Levites were set up to work in the house of the Lord.

2 Chronicles 23:3, “The Levites thirty years old and upward numbered, man by man, 38,000.”

“The Levites were divided into twenty-four rotating divisions (1 Chronicles 24:6-19).” Amplified Bible Notes

“They were not to preside over all the services of the temple…But they had certain departments of duty assigned, some of which are here specified.” Critical and Explanatory Commentary, Vol. I

We are not supposed to do it all. We need to find the department God has gifted us in and make ourselves available to that area. When we are all willing to work, no one has to work all the time.

It was May, 2008, when I learned that my former neighbor was suffering from a mental illness and given a year to live. That was the same month the only allergy medication that worked for me was taken off of the market. I had already been housebound for almost 2 years. I was facing the possibility of being housebound until my death.

I became depressed. I had finished writing my first Bible Reading Guide and felt like there was nothing else I could do for God. While praying, God told me to write a letter to Linda once a week and share my memories of her so her grandchildren would have a way to learn about her.

It became my “work for the Lord” and my depression dissolved. Linda proved the doctors wrong, and I am still writing a weekly letter to her, 2 others in nursing homes and 3 widows. They can’t leave their situations either. I thought of my “work for the Lord” when I read today’s verse.

John 9:4, “We must work the works of Him Who sent Me and be busy with His business while it is daylight; night is coming on, when no man can work.”

I ran into Linda’s son yesterday and he hugged me and thanked me for writing the letters. He told me how much it meant to the family. I told him that writing to Linda helped me during a dark time and it is a joy to write to her.

It sure put the fear of God in my family – they had to straighten up and fly right. You see, when I ran out of memories, I started sharing what I did that week and told her the funny, silly things my family did and said.

Yesterday, my son said something silly before church. I said, “That’s going in my weekly letter.” He immediately recanted and begged me not to publish it. (Lucky for him, I have enough “blonde moments” to provide plenty of material each week.)

No work is unimportant if He sent you to do it.