Help

Our youngest child is a fireball. She's almost two, and she has no fear. This is both funny and frightening. Her latest adventure lead her to climb into her pack and play unaided. Getting in was not problem. Getting out, however, was another story. I watched closely as she dangled precariously on the edge. She did not hesitate to say, "Mommy, help."

She pointed me to the invisible God with that single request. There was no doubt in her voice. She had complete faith that I would help her out of the jam she got herself into. I've found myself in need of a lot of help lately. Life has thrown me some mighty curve balls this past year, and I have found myself feeling discouraged and overwhelmed at times. I am thankful that my small child reminded me that I need only to ask for help, and God will answer.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore. (NIV: Biblegateway.com)

What No one Else Can Do

One of the chief lessons I learned from reading, The Purpose Driven Life by Pastor Rick Warren years ago, was that we are placed here on this earth to complete a purpose that no one else can. Each of us is born with a unique job to do; no one else can do our job.

Deborah and Jael performed such a job in the book of Judges, chapters 4 and 5. Deborah was one of Israel's great judges. Jael, a simple tent maker. After years of oppression by Sisera, these women stepped up when men were afraid. They were confident that God would grant them victory because He said so, and He was true to His promise.

Lately, I've been convicted of taking too long to accomplish my purpose. I have spent too much time planning and not enough time doing. God placed the story of Deborah right in front of my face this week. He reminded me that I will accomplish nothing for His glory in my own strength. I should not fear failure or inadequacy when God is directing the mission. With His help, I'm ready to move forward: NOW. No more hesitation. I have only one life to live and one purpose to fulfill. No more excuses.

Thank you God for your patience with me and your gentle reminder.

Miniature God

I'm sure most of you know what a Polly Pocket Doll is. She's super tiny, and as her name implies, she can fit into your pocket. Perhaps some of you preferred Micro Machines when you were growing up. They were a more macho version of Polly. Both were portable toys that you could fit in the smallest of places. They were also easily misplaced.

So I started thinking: how often do I reduce God to this size? How often do I limit His ability to handle my life by underestimating His greatness and His power? Sometimes I think God, the same one that made the whole world in less than a week, cannot make sure we have enough money to cover our mortgage or cure my child's cold. Well, it sounds ludicrous when I say it that way.

And it is, ludicrous. Ephesians 3:20 tells me that He can do exceedingly, abundantly more than anything I can even think or ask through His power within me! Wow! That's huge because I've been thinking and asking for a whole bunch lately, and it's good to know I've been going to the right place with my outrageous requests. No one else can take care of me like He can, and I feel silly for forgetting that when life gets hard.

So I'm upsizing God in my mind today. I am taking Him out of my pocket and placing Him back where He should be. He is too great and too powerful to be reduced by my small thinking and lack of faith. If you don't think He's up for the challenge, bring it on. I'm sure He'll deliver. After all, He delivered me. There's plenty to go around.

God, please forgive me for doubting You and what you've already done for me. I've seen miracles in my life, and I know you have more good things for me. Thank you for your love and for holding me up with your capable hands. There is no one like you. Thank you for accepting me in my brokenness and turning me into something beautiful. Help me not to doubt You. Amen.

Image 1 from Mattel.com

Image 2 from thethrottle.thechive.com

Under Construction

Please pardon my *dust* while I make some changes to this blog. The empty tabs are a step of faith anticipating things to come that God has placed on my heart. Please pray for me as I make changes and follow God's plan for me. I don't know what is around the corner, but I'm glad I know Who is in charge! Stay tuned. It might be a bumpy ride, but I am working out my faith.

Broken + Rubies

Sin had us broken, cut-off from our Creator. Once we came to Him, we were required to subdue our own will and seek His will first. Out of our brokenness, He makes us beautiful.

He treasures us. We are precious; priceless and unique; rubies. He grants us His wisdom if we only seek it and follow Him. We are broken rubies.

Rubies

Rubies are precious stones, dark red in color.

Precious = of great value or high price*

Precious = highly esteemed of cherished*

I would like to think that the deep red color of the ruby represents the color of the blood that Jesus poured out for me and for you.

Each of us is a ruby. We are precious in His sight. We are bought with the high price of Christ's blood, and we are most valuable to Him. He esteems us highly and cherishes us as His own.

If you had a 3carat, flawless ruby, how would you treat it? Would you carelessly toss it around? Would you expose it to thieves? Or would you polish it every day and keep it under lock and key? How much more precious are you? You are so much more valuable to God than a ruby.

Proverbs tells us that a wife with good character is more valuable than rubies. Is also teaches us that wisdom is more precious than rubies. The Bible refers to wisdom as "her". Wisdom is using good judgment. It is uncompromising is its standards. We are all different shapes and sizes. We differ in hue. But we are all precious rubies, nonetheless.

God takes us in our raw, uncut form. He polishes us and shapes us, revealing our true beauty within.

"Wisdom is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire can compare with her." Proverbs 3:15

Do our lives reflect our "ruby" status?

*Definitions from Webster's Dictionary

** Image 1 from www.gdphoto.com

Image 2 from www.ramaura.com

Broken

Broken = cut-off or disconnected.*

Since Eve took and ate the forbidden fruit, she was cut-off from perfect communion with God. As her daughters, we suffer the same fate. God sent His only son, Jesus to rectify this disconnection. If we accept Him as the sacrifice for our sins, He becomes our bridge back to God, His Father. In order to live for Him, we must be broken.

Broken = subdued completely.*

We have to put our will aside and seek God's will first. Our will must be subdued. As we learn to submit to His will, turning away from our sin, all else will fall into place. Everything will work together for our good if we love and serve Him. We put our lives into His capable hands and allow His will to govern our thoughts and rule our hearts.

"The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.

You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God."

Psalm 51:17

Are you broken?

*Definitions from Webster's Dictionary