Blessing in Disguise

Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 2 Cor 1:6 (NLT)

I was reminded of this verse today after dealing with a splinter in my toe.  I was in the shower and all of a sudden I felt something sharp in my big toe.  Weird!  Upon looking I see a splinter.  Where in the world did that come from I think!  I am in the shower for goodness sake, what is in here that would give me a splinter!

No matter, it got in somehow and now it needed to come out.  This caused a household search for the tweezers which I finally found in my tool box!  After, doing minor surgery on my toe with a needle, tweezers and of course rubbing alcohol, the splinter was gone. 

It was then that I remembered the conversation I had yesterday with my grand-son.  I had picked him up because he wanted to come spend the weekend with me.  During the drive to my house he told me he had helped his dad do some work on an old barn door and somehow his hand had gotten filled with splinters.  I told him when we got home I would look at it and perhaps I would be able to remove the splinters for him if they weren’t in too deep.  However, one thing led to another and by the time we got home after running a few errands, both of us had forgotten all about the splinters….at least I had and he never reminded me. 

Now,however, since I had gotten a splinter, it caused me to remember his splinters and with a little work I was able to successfully remove all of his too.  He was happy to have them out and I was happy to be able to help him.    I guess you could say my splinter was a blessing in disguise, because it prepared me to help him. 

The whole incident could be related to what Paul is saying in 2 Cor. 1:6.  If we look at it that way, we will be able to give thanks in everything as Paul says in 1Thess.5:18  because whatever we might have to go through or deal could prepare us to help someone else with whatever they are going through.  It is much easier to be compassionate and helpful if you have experienced the same trials as another. 

Thank you God, that You always work everything together for good in our lives.  I give You thanks for Your many blessings, even those that are sometimes disguised as trials and tribulations.  Help me to remember to give thanks in everything, for the trial I endure today may just prepare me for offering the comfort needed for someone tomorrow.

Lollygagging

Many of us may not be familiar with the word “lollygagging”.  I, myself, have not really heard it since I was a child.  My mom used to frequently say it when she reprimanded me or my brother.  “Stop lollygagging and set the table!”  “Quit your lollygagging and go feed the chickens!”

Lollygagging means “to dawdle, dally, or loiter aimlessly” (1) The original meaning comes from Amer.Eng., perhaps from dial.,  lolly  ”tongue” + gag  ”deceive, trick.”.(2)  This might have meaning in it for us writer’s who experience dry periods in our writing, for it would be saying that our speech is actually being muted, ie: our tongues are gagged.

For me, today, receiving this word was a blessing.  It popped into my head as I was thinking about my writing.  For a couple of months I have gone through a period of dryness in my writing, and this morning I  prayed that God would inspire me to write again.  I asked Him for ideas, inspiration, help!    Well, it really didn’t take long for me to get my answer.  Almost instantly eight ideas flooded into my head, so fast in fact, that I had to rush to write them all down so as not to forget them!

“Thank you God!” I said.  His reply ” Now stop lollygagging around and get to it!”   “Okay, Lord, I will!”  I replied.

Then, as if to affirm His intervention, I believe He placed two different objects in my path at different times today, both of which were directly related to ideas for stories I had planned to write about previously and never had.  It was amazing!  It was almost as if He was saying  “Remember those ideas I gave you previously?  What about writing about them? ”

Psalm 46:1 [NLT] says “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” In this case, He surely was a great help to me in jump-starting my writing and I am blessed to have Him near and always ready to help me with anything at anytime.

1. lollygag. (n.d.). Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved August 18, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lollygag

2. lollygag. (n.d.). Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved August 18, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lollygag

Intangible Blessings

Everyday we are probably blessed in someway with many Intangible Blessings.  These are blessings that we are not physically able to touch or account for materially, but are ones that can be felt with our senses and spirit.

These Intangible Blessings might  come into our lives through others in the form of a smile, a word, a touch, a hand-written note , or a hug.  These blessings are in-valuable, for who can place a dollar amount on having a shoulder to cry on or a friend’s listening ear in time of need?  A small hand written note of love or a picture drawn from the heart can often bring lasting joy.  All the money in the world cannot buy the love of a child or the loyalty of a pet.   These are Intangible Blessings and they should always be recognized and valued.

God often shares Intangible Blessings with us daily through His word.  Sometimes a scripture will come to our mind at just the right time, or we will read a verse that jumps off the page to encourage us.  He often gives us a “brother in time of need” to uplift  us or He will remind us in the night watches that He is there to comfort us at all times.

I love to receive gifts.  Unwrapping a gift purchased for me by a family member or friend can be such a blessing.  Receiving something tangible that I can look at, use or touch is a great blessing to me.  However, I most appreciate those Intangible Blessings that come my way daily in various forms, for it is those that often touch my heart and mind and make an lasting imprint that carries me through each day.

 

A Guaranteed Blessing

Last night as I was watching TV, a commercial came on where a car maker was advertising they would guarantee how much your new car would be worth after you purchased it and drove it off the lot.

This seemed to cause potential customers happiness and comfort in the fact that even though they knew their new car would depreciate extensively as soon as they drove it off the car dealer’s lot, they would still have an assurance of  it’s worth in the future, for they had the promise of a guarantee.

This reminded me of the blessing that we believers have been given.  The Guarantee of God–the Holy Spirit.

2 Cor.1:22 says:  God  “put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him. Ephesians 1:14 [NLT]

So, believers, you see, we have been give the best guarantee of all!  We are blessed!  Let’s praise and glorify Him today for this !

Answers Found…

An upsetting news clip.  A sad circumstances in the life of a friend.  Health concerns of a family member.  Financial problems of my own.

Where can I find answers?  Peace?  Joy?

I run to the One who knows all and sees all.  No, not to the great wizard of Oz, but to Jehovah, the One True God. “For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  Luke 12:30 [NKJV]

His word tells me that in this world I will have trouble, but not to worry about it because He has overcome the world. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 [NIV]

His word tells me that as His child I may encounter problems, but to remember that He can work all things together for good. And we know that God causes everything to work together* for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 [NLT]

His word tells me that I should keep my eyes on things above not on things on earth and that He will always provide, protect and guide me. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Colossians 3:2 [NLT]   The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. Psalm 23:1 [NLT]

Suddenly, I hear baby birds chirping, their mother provides them with food that God made available to her.

His word asks “Are you not more valuable then they?” “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  Matthew 6:26 [NKJV]

I see a lily  in bloom, its fragrance is a delight to my senses, its color is so white and pure.   His word says “shall I not take care of you as well as it?  “And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?  Matthew 6:30 [NLT]

All is well.  I found my answers.  I have peace and joy.  God is in control.

Seek the Kingdom of God* above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 [NLT]

 

"The Best for Last"

“…But you have kept the best for last!” John 2:10

The master of ceremonies told the bridegroom that the wine he served last was the best–that it was wonderful stuff !  Usually a host serves the best first but you are “different than most” he said.

As I read this account in John 2 today of Jesus first miracle in turning water into wine, I realized that God also saves the best for last when it comes to our lives.   God has a plan and purpose put in place for all of us and no matter what stage of life we are in, that plan stands, it is there waiting for us to find.  God will work all things together for good to help us reach the place where we can fulfill that plan, but we need to pray daily and ask Him what we need to be doing to accomplish the purpose He has planned out for us, for it is a plan for good, for our future, a hope to be realized.

Once we find the purpose He has planned for us we need to walk in it everyday until we reach our eternal inheritance which is the Best He has saved for Last!

 

Un-Expected Blessings…

Today I was thinking about all the changes that have come about in my life recently.  Some of those changes I had no control over and they caused me to really place my trust in God in order to keep myself moving forward.  Other changes came about because of decisions I and others made.  Those changes not only affected me but others around me as well.  Would I say all these changes were for my good?  Did their presence in my life cause it to become richer and more fulfilling?  Yes, now I can say that, but at the time some of those changes came, I wasn’t so sure.  However, I have come to realize that God often chooses to bring “un-expected blessings” into our lives in various ways and change can often be one of those ways.

I lost my job but because of that, I gained the life time dream of attending college.  I lost my church but I found a new one full of promise.  I lost some friends but was given new ones.  I lost some office space in my spare room but gained a grand-son’s presence because I had the room to take him  in to live with me.  I lost a lot of the busyness in my life but that gave me time for writing and studying.  There are many more “un-expected blessings”  that I could continue to list.    However, I just want to say that everyday I embrace these “un-expected blessings” that God has brought into my life through change and I wouldn’t change things back the way they used to be even if I could.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28 [NKJV]

"Friendly Flowers"

As I flipped the page on my wall calendar today, I was drawn to the colorful picture of two smiling flowers with a caption that said “Friends are Flowers in the Garden of Life”.

Is that true, I thought?  I stopped for a moment to consider the picture and it’s meaning.   Supposing my life to be a garden, what would that really be saying?  Would I be good soil that brought abundance to things planted in it?  Or was I just hard ground, lifeless and dry?  Was my life a garden full of fresh new growth, fragrance and beauty or was it just an empty plot full of  the weeds of yesterday and the thorns of disappointment.  Does my garden have friends who are flowers that brighten the day with the sunshine of friendship or is it lacking this because it is not ready to open itself to new opportunities ?

All good thoughts to ponder as we continue our path into this new year.  It might be a good time to look over our “Garden of Life” to see if we need to make some changes, re-work the soil, or give it a boost so when the seeds of friendship are planted in it they will indeed grown up to become “Friendly Flowers” who will add joy to our day and beauty to our Garden.

Perhaps we should seek the soil of God’s marvelous love, then our gardens will definitely be something wonderful for us and for the world to enjoy !

May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.
Ephesians 3:17,18 [NLT]

“Clear Vision?”

The day dawned sunny but cold.  My computer said the outside temperature was 27 degrees.   “Below freezing”,   I thought,  as I looked outside to see if there was any ice.  A quick survey of the area showed that the windshield of my car had some frost on it but elsewhere there was no ice to be seen. Therefore, I decided to get dressed and head out to face the day.

As I got into the car I noticed my driver’s side of the windshield was covered with frost, except at the very top of the windshield, but the rest of the car windows were clear.  “That’s odd” I thought as I searched around for my ice scraper.  While I was removing this bit of frost I thought about the significance this all might have upon my life.

Having “Clear Vision” was not only important when driving but in all aspects of life and I began to think about whether my vision for the future was clear or whether there might be anything blocking my view.  Was I able to see possible opportunities that were  right in front of me clearly or was my view of the present blocked by negative thoughts that needed to be removed from my mind?   Was I able to see future goals for my life clearly or was my vision impaired by foggy ideas?   As I scraped I realized I was removing the frost that had blocked my immediate vision, but if my eyes had looked up, above that frost, I would have been able to see clearly.

I felt God was speaking to me through this situation and that caused a scripture verse I had recently memorized to pop into my head.  “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.“   Colossians 3:2

The recall of that verse caused me to realize that no matter how foggy my vision is here on earth, if I will remember to set my focus up higher, where God’s vision is, I will always have a clear vision of things because then I will be seeing His plan and purpose for my life and once I have my vision set upon that, I will be able to move forward unimpeded by anything,  for He will remove all things that might cause my vision to be blocked.

“Lord,” they said, “we want to see!”  Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see!   Then they followed him.  Matthew 20:33-34

A Blooming Heart

“Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done.” Colossians 2:7 [NLT]

January’s page on my new calendar says “Home is where the Heart can Bloom”

That quote caused me to think about it’s meaning.  What exactly does it mean to “bloom”?

Well, according to the dictionary it means “to flourish or thrive, to be healthy, to grow”

That said, the question would be then, is our home a place where our heart can flourish, thrive, be healthy and grow?

Is our home a place of sunshine, happiness, peace and encouragement?    Is it a place of rest and well-being?

Does our heart long to be there blooming for all the world to see?    If not….Why not?

Perhaps we chould do some home remodeling this January to get our home in shape for the New Year.  It might need just abit of changing or a complete extreme makeover, but the positive results would be worth the effort if our hearts could bloom everyday don’t you think?    If our home is one where Christ is honored, one where He is the Head of the House, then it will naturally be a place of love and contentment.

So, this January let’s do a Home Inspection to see if our home is a place where Christ resides so that our hearts can freely bloom !

Dear God,

I want my home to be a place, where my heart blooms and I can see Your face,

I want to blossom and grow for You,  so show me what I must do

to make a brand new healthy start and have a home with a blooming heart !