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Are you flannel board worthy? When I taught Sunday School to fourth graders, flannel graphs were a big thing and kids loved them. As the flat, colorful flannel figures were placed on the flannel board, a marvelous story of the bible would unfold before the eyes of these waiting children. Children sat quietly as these "Heroes of the faith" were revealed with brightly colored robes and glimmering turbans.
When wondering about my place on the flannel board, I saw stark differences between myself and these heroes. How could I have the strength of David or the obedience of Noah? Would I ever survive, like Jonah, in the belly of a whale? "These were "extraordinary" God followers" I thought. But what you don't see on the flannel board is the ordinary lives of these bible figures. How could flannel characters depict the failures of David or the rebellion of Jonah? But God used these extraordinarily ordinary men in mighty ways.
I am reminded of Queen Esther, who rose to be a queen while after coming from a simple, ordinary background. She would be "flannel board" material for sure. She did extraordinary things for God and His people. Mordecai posed this thought to the Queen, "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NIV).
How about your life? How about your place on the flannel board? Is it splashed with the colors of scorn and sin? Has the icy fingers of despair and scars that have made you feel disqualified from ever serving God have torn your fragile form?
I know that the "story of my life" will never make it to the flannel board, nor will I ever be a queen, but I believe ordinary people like me are still called to do extraordinary things for God. For in these times, as the world cries out for some sign of hope, we should accept our place as children of the King, Heirs to the Throne as we serve in such a time as this.
“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NIV)
Jeanie Nihiser
Volunteer and Prayer Warrior with Answers2Prayer Ministries
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)
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