Roy and student illustrate Proverbs 14:4

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.

Every day we make hundreds of choices. Who will we call? To which e-mail do we reply? Will we ask the “hard question” that those in the room seem to be avoiding? Will we go see someone when they may not respond well to what we have to say?

And as we face those choices we either choose to seek out the clean, good smelling, orderly stable OR we welcome the manure, mess, and responsibility of the ox. It is the messy stable that offers the chance for greater fruitfulness. Abundant life is a result of small choices made every day to trust God for the strength, wisdom, grace, and truth to go for the ox.

What do you want to avoid? What threatens your “clean stable” life? God grows our faith, hope and love capacities when we live in the messy stable.