Browsed by
Tag: need

Ox in the Ditch

Ox in the Ditch

Comments 2 comments

Ox in the Ditch--cow in water behind treesMy friend Phyllis recently had an ox in the ditch. She and her husband dressed for church. Then they noticed a cow having trouble birthing its calf. Their cow needed help. Putting first things first, they helped their animals. They arrived at church late but with an attitude of gratitude for a healthy cow and calf.

An ox in the ditch is not usually an ox.

Examples of an ox in the ditch include:

  • Sick people who need a doctor
  • Crime victims who need the police
  • Buildings on fire that need firefighters

An ox in a ditch means an emergency.

 The need demands:

  • Immediate action
  • Total attention

A great need replaces a good plan.

The Bible says Jesus healed a sick person on the Sabbath. Work was forbidden on days of worship. However, Jesus asked if people would not pull an ox from a ditch (or well) on the Sabbath. Another time Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27 NIV).

God expects people to rest and worship one day a week. However, God also expects believers to put feet to their prayers – to meet needs when they arise.

“Then [Jesus] asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” (Luke 14:5 NIV).

Thanks to Phyllis Patton for the suggestion and Bart Woodrum for the photo.

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Run with It

Run with It

Comments 0 Comment

Run with It--runners in a raceSometimes we get an idea and run with it.

We see a need or better way to do something, so we take care of it. Occasionally we say take the ball and run with it.

We run with it when we act on what we think should be done.

 We don’t wait for someone else to:

  • Tell us what to do
  • Do it
  • Help us do it

Instead, we figure out what to do. Then we meet the need by ourselves and in our own way.

Other times we wait on an idea. 

We wait for:

  • The right time
  • More information
  • Someone to show us or tell us what to do
  • Extra help

Without help, we can get in over our heads or run out of steam.

After we run with an idea alone, we may decide to ask for help.

A good idea often grows and needs more workers.

Whether we run with an idea on our own or work with others, we do well when we meet the needs around us.

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV).

Thanks to Judy Clark for the suggestion and Franklin Clark for the photo.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.