The other day, on our way to church, we passed a house with some wind damage. The play-set they have for their children was twisted and blown over. It was lying on the ground beside the slide and the four posts it had been on.
It made me think of what can happen to us at times. We'll be sitting there thinking all is good, but then a wind kicks up and twists us all around. It can sometimes twist us so much that we're blown off our legs. But it doesn't have to be that way. We can sink our foundation so deep in Christ that a storm can only shake us, not blow us off.
Remember the children's song about the wise man who built his house upon a rock? That's what we're talking about.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compare to a wise man who built house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house and it fell—and great was its fall. ~Matthew 7:24-27 NAS
Building on the Rock sounds like a smart thing to do!
Let's sink our foundation and footer deep so when the rains come down we'll stand strong.
Showing posts with label growth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label growth. Show all posts
Smoothness
Is it only the crashing surf of the ocean that wears a stone smooth? No, it's not, but it's one of the first ways we think of. Times of great storms in our lives are also the times we remember the longest, times we know that God is working on us. But it's not the only time.
When David fought Goliath look what he did...
He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine. ~1 Samuel 17:40
Those stones hadn't been beaten smooth in the ocean, nor even a great river. They were in a brook. There's nothing fierce about a brook, but the water was enough to wear stones smooth. In Jeremiah 2:13 God calls Himself “the fountain of living waters.” God and His Word is like water in our lives—He smooths our rough edges with His constant movement in our lives.
Sometimes our life might feel like we're caught in the surf, constantly being pounded as storms lash us. Other times life is more like a river, or even a little brook, meandering and mellow. But even during those easy times, God is wearing the rough edges off us, making us smoother and more fit for His use.
In Sunday School this week, Brad, our department director, said, “God's always working in our lives—it's just whether we recognize it or not.” He didn't know it, but he simplified and summed up in one sentence something I've been mulling over for a few weeks. Just because life is mellow at the moment doesn't mean that God isn't working in our lives. The Living Water is always moving, wearing away the sharp angles and smoothing us so we're more fit for His service.
Let the Living Water flow over you and polish you smooth.
When David fought Goliath look what he did...
He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine. ~1 Samuel 17:40
Those stones hadn't been beaten smooth in the ocean, nor even a great river. They were in a brook. There's nothing fierce about a brook, but the water was enough to wear stones smooth. In Jeremiah 2:13 God calls Himself “the fountain of living waters.” God and His Word is like water in our lives—He smooths our rough edges with His constant movement in our lives.
Sometimes our life might feel like we're caught in the surf, constantly being pounded as storms lash us. Other times life is more like a river, or even a little brook, meandering and mellow. But even during those easy times, God is wearing the rough edges off us, making us smoother and more fit for His use.
In Sunday School this week, Brad, our department director, said, “God's always working in our lives—it's just whether we recognize it or not.” He didn't know it, but he simplified and summed up in one sentence something I've been mulling over for a few weeks. Just because life is mellow at the moment doesn't mean that God isn't working in our lives. The Living Water is always moving, wearing away the sharp angles and smoothing us so we're more fit for His service.
Let the Living Water flow over you and polish you smooth.
Shallowness
I'm not a deep thinker and I've had a relatively easy life. To be honest, I feel like a very shallow person living a life of ease. As I read through the Bible and read about the lives of those great saints, and then read biographies of missionaries, my feelings of shallowness increase and I'm more convinced than ever that I'm living a dream life in my own little bubble.
Just this morning I read in a devotional that “God never uses anyone to a great degree until he breaks the person completely.” I understand this and know it to be true, but I'm left wondering if God will use me at all since I have such an easy life and am not a deep thinker. I know not everyone is called to be a Matthew Henry, a DL Moody, or a Nate Saint, and I know they were ordinary men used by an extraordinary God. But what about those of us who really want to be used by God yet live a life that seems to only skim the surface?
Please understand, I'm not looking for pats on the back or excuses for shallow living on easy street. This is something I've been mulling over for a couple of weeks now and I want to hear your thoughts on this.
Does depth of character only come from great trials and tribulation? Is it possible for God to use someone who leads an easy life?
Just this morning I read in a devotional that “God never uses anyone to a great degree until he breaks the person completely.” I understand this and know it to be true, but I'm left wondering if God will use me at all since I have such an easy life and am not a deep thinker. I know not everyone is called to be a Matthew Henry, a DL Moody, or a Nate Saint, and I know they were ordinary men used by an extraordinary God. But what about those of us who really want to be used by God yet live a life that seems to only skim the surface?
Please understand, I'm not looking for pats on the back or excuses for shallow living on easy street. This is something I've been mulling over for a couple of weeks now and I want to hear your thoughts on this.
Does depth of character only come from great trials and tribulation? Is it possible for God to use someone who leads an easy life?
A Namaan Complex
Recently my husband asked me to do a few things, and I have to admit that my response wasn't too good. There’s nothing glorious nor grand about wiping down cupboards, washing ceiling fan fixtures and especially about scrubbing hard water marks out of toilets, but they are things that need to be done, and they do fall into the things I'm responsible for. You see, I have a Naaman complex.
Naaman was angry because the prophet Elisha wouldn’t even come out to speak to him, and he was a great, important man. Too many times I get caught up in my own importance, which is truly laughable because I’m not great, nor important, to anybody except maybe my family. Just like Naaman, I tend to stand there and sputter and fume about why I need to do such menial tasks.
So Naaman raced away in his chariot. Thankfully he had wise servants who helped him see how silly he was being and the result was that he went to the Jordan River. Did he quit when he saw no results after going under six times? If he had, he would’ve died a leper. Did he understand why it had be seven times? Did he moan about seven? Did he try to bargain it down to five? The Bible just says he dipped himself seven times as he was instructed to. Like Naaman, I don’t need to know why, I just need to obey, without moaning or bargaining.
For Naaman, it came down to complete obedience. He had faith, why else would he have undertaken such a long journey? But faith without obedience would have left him a leper. I have faith, but if I don’t obey God my faith will grow cold.
For the Christian, the secret to our spiritual growth lies in obedience. That means being faithful in the multitude of little things because it’s through obeying in the mundane and menial things, that we learn faithfulness for the bigger things. If I won't do the simple things my husband has asked me to do, things that make perfect sense to me, will I do the things God asks me to do--things that make no sense to me?
Even though I may start like Naaman did, fuming and raging because things aren’t going as I expected and because I’ve been asked to do some things that I don't want to do, I'm going to make sure I end like Naaman did: faithfully obeying.
Naaman's account is found in 2 Kings 5:1-14.
~*~*~*~*~
I was scrolling through my index recently and noticed this post--one of my early ones here at Patterings. It really snagged my attention, so I thought I'd post it again since it's something I needed hear.
We also have a winner today! Last week Darlene Franklin was with us and the winner of her new release, Wild West Christmas is Charity! Thanks so much for being with us, Darlene! It was a treat. =)
Naaman was angry because the prophet Elisha wouldn’t even come out to speak to him, and he was a great, important man. Too many times I get caught up in my own importance, which is truly laughable because I’m not great, nor important, to anybody except maybe my family. Just like Naaman, I tend to stand there and sputter and fume about why I need to do such menial tasks.
So Naaman raced away in his chariot. Thankfully he had wise servants who helped him see how silly he was being and the result was that he went to the Jordan River. Did he quit when he saw no results after going under six times? If he had, he would’ve died a leper. Did he understand why it had be seven times? Did he moan about seven? Did he try to bargain it down to five? The Bible just says he dipped himself seven times as he was instructed to. Like Naaman, I don’t need to know why, I just need to obey, without moaning or bargaining.
For Naaman, it came down to complete obedience. He had faith, why else would he have undertaken such a long journey? But faith without obedience would have left him a leper. I have faith, but if I don’t obey God my faith will grow cold.
For the Christian, the secret to our spiritual growth lies in obedience. That means being faithful in the multitude of little things because it’s through obeying in the mundane and menial things, that we learn faithfulness for the bigger things. If I won't do the simple things my husband has asked me to do, things that make perfect sense to me, will I do the things God asks me to do--things that make no sense to me?
Even though I may start like Naaman did, fuming and raging because things aren’t going as I expected and because I’ve been asked to do some things that I don't want to do, I'm going to make sure I end like Naaman did: faithfully obeying.
Naaman's account is found in 2 Kings 5:1-14.
I was scrolling through my index recently and noticed this post--one of my early ones here at Patterings. It really snagged my attention, so I thought I'd post it again since it's something I needed hear.
We also have a winner today! Last week Darlene Franklin was with us and the winner of her new release, Wild West Christmas is Charity! Thanks so much for being with us, Darlene! It was a treat. =)
A Naaman Complex
Recently my husband asked me to do a few things, and I have to admit that my response wasn't too good. There’s nothing glorious nor grand about wiping down cupboards, washing ceiling fan fixtures and especially about scrubbing hard water marks out of toilets, but they are things that need to be done, and they do fall into the things I'm responsible for. You see, I have a Naaman complex.
Naaman was angry because the prophet Elisha wouldn’t even come out to speak to him, and he was a great, important man. Too many times I get caught up in my own importance, which is truly laughable because I’m not great, nor important, to anybody except maybe my family. Just like Naaman, I tend to stand there and sputter and fume about why I need to do such menial tasks.
So Naaman raced away in his chariot. Thankfully he had wise servants who helped him see how silly he was being and the result was that he went to the Jordan River. Did he quit when he saw no results after going under six times? If he had, he would’ve died a leper. Did he understand why it had be seven times? Did he moan about seven? Did he try to bargain it down to five? The Bible just says he dipped himself seven times as he was instructed to. Like Naaman, I don’t need to know why, I just need to obey, without moaning or bargaining.
For Naaman, it came down to complete obedience. He had faith, why else would he have undertaken such a long journey? But faith without obedience would have left him a leper. I have faith, but if I don’t obey God my faith will grow cold.
For the Christian, the secret to our spiritual growth lies in obedience. That means being faithful in the multitude of little things because it’s through obeying in the mundane and menial things, that we learn faithfulness for the bigger things. If I won't do the simple things my husband has asked me to do, things that make perfect sense to me, will I do the things God asks me to do--things that make no sense to me?
Even though I may start like Naaman did, fuming and raging because things aren’t going as I expected and because I’ve been asked to do some things that I don't want to do, I'm going to make sure I end like Naaman did: faithfully obeying.
Naaman's account is found in 2 Kings 5:1-14.
Naaman was angry because the prophet Elisha wouldn’t even come out to speak to him, and he was a great, important man. Too many times I get caught up in my own importance, which is truly laughable because I’m not great, nor important, to anybody except maybe my family. Just like Naaman, I tend to stand there and sputter and fume about why I need to do such menial tasks.
So Naaman raced away in his chariot. Thankfully he had wise servants who helped him see how silly he was being and the result was that he went to the Jordan River. Did he quit when he saw no results after going under six times? If he had, he would’ve died a leper. Did he understand why it had be seven times? Did he moan about seven? Did he try to bargain it down to five? The Bible just says he dipped himself seven times as he was instructed to. Like Naaman, I don’t need to know why, I just need to obey, without moaning or bargaining.
For Naaman, it came down to complete obedience. He had faith, why else would he have undertaken such a long journey? But faith without obedience would have left him a leper. I have faith, but if I don’t obey God my faith will grow cold.
For the Christian, the secret to our spiritual growth lies in obedience. That means being faithful in the multitude of little things because it’s through obeying in the mundane and menial things, that we learn faithfulness for the bigger things. If I won't do the simple things my husband has asked me to do, things that make perfect sense to me, will I do the things God asks me to do--things that make no sense to me?
Even though I may start like Naaman did, fuming and raging because things aren’t going as I expected and because I’ve been asked to do some things that I don't want to do, I'm going to make sure I end like Naaman did: faithfully obeying.
Naaman's account is found in 2 Kings 5:1-14.
Following the Directions
It's taken me several days, but as you can see, I've managed to change the layout of my blog. Do you like it? I would've crashed and burned, and lost everything if I hadn't found (read this: God led me to) a site that was able to step me through the process—in understandable detail. Otherwise, I would've been pulling out my hair (and worse) just to lose it all. (The site's link is on the left!)
That's how the Bible is in our lives. The Bible, God's Word, gives us directions for living. We need to thoroughly read and reread the directions, and follow them each step of the way. God walks us through the steps and He holds our hands through the sticky parts, making it so we don't crash and burn and lose everything.
By following His instructions we can make the changes needed in our lives and live to glorify our Savior.
“Thy word is a lamp to my feet,
And a light to my path.”
Psalm 119:105 (NAS)
That's how the Bible is in our lives. The Bible, God's Word, gives us directions for living. We need to thoroughly read and reread the directions, and follow them each step of the way. God walks us through the steps and He holds our hands through the sticky parts, making it so we don't crash and burn and lose everything.
By following His instructions we can make the changes needed in our lives and live to glorify our Savior.
“Thy word is a lamp to my feet,
And a light to my path.”
Psalm 119:105 (NAS)
Frosted Blossoms
Well, last night we got our annual late frost. The nectarine and peach tress were blossoming but the frost got those. I love watching things bloom in the spring and I hated seeing those blossoms die instead of maturing into fruit, but I know things happen for a reason. For the fruit trees, the frost thinned out the many blossoms allowing the tree to focus its energy on fewer, but larger fruit.
Many times I've started things and God has sent a frost and killed those blossoms. It wasn't that the things I was doing was bad, it was just a thinning out process so that other things could grow and mature into bigger and better fruit for the Lord.
The thinning process isn't fun nor easy, but if you want a beautiful crop of large fruit it's necessary. Personally, I would rather have a few large, tasty pieces of fruit than small, wormy pieces.
“...and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2b
Many times I've started things and God has sent a frost and killed those blossoms. It wasn't that the things I was doing was bad, it was just a thinning out process so that other things could grow and mature into bigger and better fruit for the Lord.
The thinning process isn't fun nor easy, but if you want a beautiful crop of large fruit it's necessary. Personally, I would rather have a few large, tasty pieces of fruit than small, wormy pieces.
“...and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2b
Daffodils
As we drove into town my six year old asked why everyone else had pretty daffodils in their yards but we didn't.
“Because you have to plant them and we haven't planted any.”
So many times I've asked the same thing. “Lord, why don't I have ____ in my life?”
And God's response was like mine to my son. “Because you have to plant it and nurture it to have it.”
“But if any of you lacks wisdom,
“Because you have to plant them and we haven't planted any.”
So many times I've asked the same thing. “Lord, why don't I have ____ in my life?”
And God's response was like mine to my son. “Because you have to plant it and nurture it to have it.”
and search for her as for hidden treasures;
then you will discern the fear of the LORD,
and discover the knowledge of God.”
Proverbs 2:4-5 (NAS)
“But if any of you lacks wisdom,
let him ask of God,
who gives to all men generously and without reproach,
and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5 (NAS)
Morning Rain
How many times has it happened that just as it gets light enough to really start doing something outside, it clouds up and rains.
Life often does the same thing to us.
Just as life appears to lighten up so we can actually do something, a storm will blow in and the rain starts, stopping us from what we wanted to do. Is it that what we were going to do is bad? Not necessarily. Is it that God likes to rain on our parade? No. The rain cleanses the air and waters the earth so things can grow, and when the sun comes out again, everything appears brighter--it even smells better. Those are good things and they apply to life's storms, too.
So, when life rains on us, remember that when it passes we'll be refreshed and brighter for it. We can't grow without rain to water us.
Life often does the same thing to us.
Just as life appears to lighten up so we can actually do something, a storm will blow in and the rain starts, stopping us from what we wanted to do. Is it that what we were going to do is bad? Not necessarily. Is it that God likes to rain on our parade? No. The rain cleanses the air and waters the earth so things can grow, and when the sun comes out again, everything appears brighter--it even smells better. Those are good things and they apply to life's storms, too.
So, when life rains on us, remember that when it passes we'll be refreshed and brighter for it. We can't grow without rain to water us.
Flooded Free
There's a low-lying field next to the road to town that floods every spring. (LoL--the same field that had ducks swimming in a mud puddle.) After the water drained off, I noticed the flood had left a legacy of surfaced trash. Trash that had been tucked here-there-and-yonder had floated free of its hiding place, and as the flood waters receded, it was left in a neat line at the water's farthest reach. A can recycler would have an easy time of it right now. Rather than having to zigzag around, they'd only have to follow the water line.
When our lives flood, it's not all bad. The trash that's tucked away, just out of sight, is floated free and it surfaces so we can easily spot it and get rid of it.
Seeing that line of trash on the banking of the field made me wonder if I'd been using my floods wisely--to help me clean the trash out of my life.
When our lives flood, it's not all bad. The trash that's tucked away, just out of sight, is floated free and it surfaces so we can easily spot it and get rid of it.
Seeing that line of trash on the banking of the field made me wonder if I'd been using my floods wisely--to help me clean the trash out of my life.
Spring!
There are birds in my yard once again. Lots of them. Through the winter months I'd forgotten how much I enjoy seeing and hearing them; I just accepted life as it was: not completely birdless, but almost.
That's how my spiritual walk is sometimes: Scriptureless--and over time I just accept it and forget how much I miss my time spent in God's Word. My world turns gray and rather barren, and cold—that damp chill that settles into your bones and makes you miserable.
But I'm so thankful that God doesn't just leave me in perpetual winter. He sends spring breezes to my soul, reminding me of the joy and pleasure of His Word, and encourages me to return to the joy of my salvation. That's when Spring truly arrives—when God's Word soaks into my soul and causes joy to bloom anew.
“The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Thy Faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NAS)
That's how my spiritual walk is sometimes: Scriptureless--and over time I just accept it and forget how much I miss my time spent in God's Word. My world turns gray and rather barren, and cold—that damp chill that settles into your bones and makes you miserable.
But I'm so thankful that God doesn't just leave me in perpetual winter. He sends spring breezes to my soul, reminding me of the joy and pleasure of His Word, and encourages me to return to the joy of my salvation. That's when Spring truly arrives—when God's Word soaks into my soul and causes joy to bloom anew.
“The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Thy Faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NAS)
Gourmet People
In today's instant society there are mixes and powders for everything, but the one that makes me snicker most is baby powder. I can just see a little girl stirring water into baby powder and expecting a baby.
Life isn't always instant though. In fact, none of the great men of God were instant men—they were gourmet. It was years after being anointed king that David finally took the position God told him he would have. During those years he was basically made an outlaw by his father-in-law, yet he never became angry nor bitter about the amount of time that passed. He did what God put before him, and he sought God's leading constantly. God used those years to better prepare David for the purpose He called him to.
There have been many times in my life that I felt I was going nowhere—simply treading water, and killing time. But that's not how it was. God was using those times to prepare me, and He's still preparing me. Am I following David's example of not becoming impatient or angry? Am I seeking God's next step for me and making myself available for His use?
Gourmet cooking is not a 'just add water' affair. It takes time and energy and even special ingredients...I'd rather be God's gourmet dish than my own instant generic-box-blahness.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NAS)
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