Showing posts with label refreshment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label refreshment. Show all posts

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Tiny Tea Cups

Read: Philippians 4: 11-13

“Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” – 1 Chronicles 4:10

While browsing in a bookstore, I saw a painting of a fairy sitting in a tiny teacup! This reminded me that as young Christians, our cup is very tiny. Few people can share in its refreshment. However, the Lord expands our cup so that others may come to drink of that which God invests in us (Psalm 23:5). This realization made me very nervous and insecure because of the changes about to take place in my life.

When God enlarges our territory, we apprehensively watch our tiny world breaking out of its comfortable mold. We tremble with concern as the unknown replaces the familiar. “What if”-questions storm our thoughts. Having to rearrange our life to fit these new circumstances and obligations into our routine causes extra concentration and planning. As we prioritize, we have to say “No” to some of the responsibilities we once accepted. This risks hurting people’s feelings or causing them to be disappointed in us.

After years of walking in God’s protection, however, I am learning to find contentment in His wisdom and to trust in His providence. Godliness with contentment brings great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). God proves repeatedly that He is able to make all grace abound to me; so that in all things, at all times, having everything I need supplied by His generous hand, I will abound in every area of my life (2 Corinthians 9:8). With this contentment, I also have the comfort of knowing without a doubt that God will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).

As God cleanses us from carnality, He chooses to use us as an instrument for His noble purpose (2 Timothy 2:21). He makes us holy and fruitful in our service to Him (2 Corinthians 9:8). He is able to do immeasurably more through us than we can ask or imagine because of His power that is working in us (Ephesians 3:20).

Many blessing come to us, to our family and to those in our sphere of influence, because of what God invests in us (Isaiah 50:4). He makes us servants of His gospel by the gift of His grace and the working of His power in us and through us (Ephesians 3:7). His joy is always our strength in meager times as well as in prosperous ones (Nehemiah 8:10).

Prayer:
Father God, Your awesome power astounds us, Your mercy and grace amaze us and Your forgiveness humbles us. Thank You for using us as Your servants to spread Your Word and Your Kingdom to the ends of the earth. Bless us and keep us and let Your face shine upon us now and always (Numbers 6:25).

Thought for the Day:
The Lord is able to turn bread and water into toast and tea for His Saints.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

The Rocky Road to Peace


Read: John 4: 10-14

“Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."  - John 7:37-38

Today I was listening to my nature music with sounds of a gurgling brook in the background. As I absently dusted the living room with my feather duster, I visualized myself sitting next to that gurgling stream, with wildflowers tickling my arm in the slight breeze and butterflies swirling overhead.

As I moved into the bedrooms with the duster, I changed scenes in my mind and pictured myself in a raft, lazily drifting with the current along the scenic view of that same rivulet. I felt so much peace and tranquility fill my soul. I started to sing praises to God along with the instrumental music and I thanked Him for giving us nature to enjoy. 

After putting the feather duster away, I snuggled into my recliner with the music still playing gently in the background. I sat quietly, listening for the Lord. God reminded me that most streams have rocks and even boulders in them that the water must traverse around!!! Yet, the water continues to flow unhindered by these obstacles. He reminded me that our life also has obstacles in it; and if we allow them to, they will impede our progress.

However, as we rest in Jesus, who is our eternal, Living Water, we will drift smoothly around every hindrance in life. We will not only experience peace and joy ourselves, but we will also share our tranquility with everyone God leads to come rest by our side!

PRAYER
Lord, give us a fresh filling of Your Holy Spirit with each new day (Genesis 41:38). Allow Your Living Water to fill our souls with refreshment and give us peace, not as the world gives; but that peace, which circumvents every obstacle in life.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. - Isaiah 12:3