Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Get Your Square

Ever had something special to you that you tucked away for awhile, knowing that it would have great purpose at some point?

Let me introduce you to  "my squares", as Nate has precisely named them.

With our recent move, I re-discovered all twenty of "my squares". Just simple pieces of cloth, in my favorite color(purple), with the letter "E" initialed on each one. Absolutely nothing special about them to most eyes, yet I refuse to get rid of them. All twenty of them!

I promise I'm not a pack-rat, but when certain items hold value to me, I find it hard to get rid of them so easily. With these particular "squares", I've held onto them since my wedding day. They were used in the center of each table at our reception for the centerpieces to sit on top of. Again, even then they had no great purpose and they haven't been used since, but they're just special to me! In fact, they had very humble beginnings. They started as a bed sheet that I found on clearance, at a thrift store. (The cheapest of the cheap, yet I saw beauty!) Then, as a wedding gift, my aunt cut the sheet into twenty small squares and embroidered "E's" onto each one! Talk about a wedding on a budget...that was my wedding!

Almost seven years removed from that great day, they have been packed away, unused. All because I just knew I would use them someday for something fabulous!

With a husband who hates clutter, I knew I had to find use for them when I found them recently, or he would send them out the door!

What to do?

It never came to me! I don't know that there is anything fabulous to do with my twenty "squares".

But while I'm waiting on the grand idea to knock me off my feet someday, I've put them to use with my children, for the protection of my new dining room table! We've never had a new, and nice dining room table until now. What possessed us to buy a new one NOW, given the ages of our children, I'll never know, but it's gorgeous, I love it, and I want it to stay in good condition!

This is where my lovely squares come into play! They stay in a drawer in the dining room. When meal time rolls around, I no longer say "Time to eat!". All I have to say is, "Come get your square!", and the kiddos come running! They run and grab a "square from the drawer, place it at their spot at the table, and anxiously await for their plate of food to be placed on top!

Not exactly how I anticipated they would be used seven glorious years ago, but hey, it works for me!

Today as a read a post from a fellow blogger, I couldn't help but think of "squares", and then ME!

Lisa used this verse,

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.
Zechariah 4:10
 
My squares had VERY humble beginnings. So did I. But all those years they just sat in storage, they weren't serving even the smallest of purpose! Do they have an extraordinary purpose now? Nope. They semi-contain the mess of my children at meal-time, but that is a HUGE deal to me, because I really value my new table. It's also kinda cute seeing the little squares in their little hands!
What about me?
 
What about you?

Do you have an EXTRAORDINARY purpose?

In my own fleshly eyes, I don't! I'm a girl with humble beginnings. Raised on a sawmill in Dacusville, SC. Raising my own little family now, not far from there. I just know that God has called me to something BIG, but I just haven't got it all figured out yet! So what will I do while I wait? Just sit on the shelf until the big day of my EXTRAORDINARY purpose? I choose to answer, "NO!" (Not exactly the way I'm tempted to answer!)

I want to be used for A PURPOSE! No matter how big, or small, God take me, and use it ALL! All for Your glory! It may be serving others, even the "messy" people! I'm all Yours, Lord!

I hear HIM rejoicing at the work beginning! How about you?

You hold "value" to HIM, just like my little squares and my table! HE won't get rid of you, but He does desire to use you for a purpose of bringing glory to His beautiful Name!


Please take a few moments to check out Lisa's blog, A Moment With God! You will always be encouraged by her Spirit-filled words! Her post genuinely encouraged me today! Thanks, Lisa!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Are We There Yet?

 

Ever heard that question before?

We set out on our journey to Disney World the day after Christmas last year! Purposely, we left at 6pm with three kids, who hadn't had a nap all day! We fed them a warm dinner, packed them tightly with favorite blankies and stuffed animals, and hoped for a quiet 8 hour drive to Orlando. It worked like a charm...until we stopped for our first potty break at about 10pm. And then it started. The infamous question came from the backseat; "Are we there yet?" At their ages, Bella (4 at the time) was really the only one who understood what was going on and where we were going, however, her voice and movement woke Nate, who thought it was extremely fun to repeat everything his big sister said! Then, just for kicks and giggles, he woke Marleigh, and the rest of the ride was...well...TORTURE! 

Okay, it wasn't THAT bad, but it wasn't what I had planned for either.

Even though we had promised Bella a trip to Disney and we were well on our way, she needed a constant explanation. Her anxiety overruled and she found herself wanting to know more details. The promise of Disney was not enough in the moment. She needed to know just exactly how long it would be until she could step foot into that huge castle and see the pretty princesses. I really can't blame the child though. I find myself doing the exact same thing with just about every anxious moment in life.

Do you find yourself waiting on an explanation instead of  believing in a promise? When God's direction for my life doesn't quite line up with "my" direction and I find myself in a time of turmoil just not understanding what God is up to, it is SO easy to EXPECT an explanation from God! 

"Why, God?"

Ever asked that? 

We get anxious. We've done all we know to do to follow the Lord and please Him, yet it never quite works out as gloriously as we thought it would. We want to know the "how's" and the "why's", the "when's" and the "where's". Sadly, His promises just don't seem enough for us.

I wonder if Abraham ever asked God for an explanation with all that he had been promised. God gave him a pretty astounding promise;

"No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations"(Genesis 17:5)

Talk about a promise!

God had a close relationship with Abraham and promised him his descendants would ultimately comprise many nations. God even changed his name from Abram to Abraham, meaning "father of a multitude," to reflect the importance of this promise. Yet, I'm sure Abraham couldn't quite understand how all of that would happen with a barren wife. Years down the road, even after Issac was born and they traveled together to make a sacrifice, I'm sure, once again, he was wondering if this promise was in the literal sense.

Can't you almost hear him questioning God? He probably glanced at the stars and the sand and wondered HOW it would EVER happen. (Genesis 22:17) Yet the Bible says, he didn't waiver from the promise. How could he not be just a bit perplexed as to how it would all come about? 

I believe I've found myself in that boat many times! I BELIEVE the promises He has for me, yet in the middle of turmoil and desperate situations, I become anxious and dwell on the specifics of how it will all come to pass. Much like Bella as well, she believed the promise of going to Disney World, yet in the LONG car ride there, she "needed" to know exactly how much longer it was going to take to obtain the promise.

Are you in transition in your life right now? Are you on the LONG ride to your promise from God?
Don't lose heart. God has not forgotten about you. He remembers the promise He has made with you and longs to bless you with it. Go look at the stars one night and stand in amazement of all His promises for all creation. Be patient. The thrill of the promise is well worth the wait. Wait on Him and gain strength. And while you wait...and wait...and wait, don't expect an explanation for the questions that may arise. 

BELIEVE IN THE PROMISE!

First glimpse of the Castle! Standing in amazement of "the promise"!


When doubt tries to enter your particular situations, claim these verses about His promises for your life:
1.) The Lord ALWAYS keeps His promises! (1 Kings 8:20)
2.) The promise is for YOU and YOUR children. (Acts 2:39) They need to see your faith! :)
3.) It is BY FAITH that we receive the promises! (Gal. 3:14)
4.) The Lord is not slow in HIS TIMING to keep His promises! (2 Peter 3:9)

KEEP THE FAITH!











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