Cereal bowl

Monday was busy.

I had to get my shots that day, I couldn’t go Wednesday.

I learned last week waiting till Thursday meant a very full office which means longer time in the office.

I also needed a few groceries and some bowls.

Some how we were down to three cereal bowls.

I normally like sets of dishes, but our everyday set is mismatched, so I figured I’d stop at a thrift store and buy some white bowls.

After all, white bowls are common.

Although, I’m certain there’s multiple thrift stores in the city my Allergist office is in, I didn’t want to shop there.

I prayed about it and felt I should try a town just south of there, it was on the way and I could get groceries as well.

The GPS was a little challenging, but we eventually found it and got out.

After our time of city life last year, this thrift store was indeed small in comparison, but I didn’t have trouble finding the one aisle of dishes.

On the top shelf, just at eye level were two white bowls with writing.

At first I disregarded them, I didn’t want anything with writing.

Look again.

I glanced back and read the words, they were Bible verses!

“Thank You, Lord!”

I added both to my cart and a few others.

At home, I washed and dried them, out them on the shelf near the cereal.

It wasn’t until this morning I realized how blessed I was to get these.

I was feeling a bit stressed, my head was bothering me, and I couldn’t seem to get mental focus.

I hadn’t realized how much I was struggling until I went to make coffee for my husband and got distracted.

Anne walked in about this juncture and asked,

“Mom, what are you doing?”

I looked up a bit bewildered, “Why?”

“Because, you’re standing looking in the desk holding the empty top of the coffee maker and a piece of sandpaper.”

We both grinned at each other.

“Oh, I was dumping the coffee grounds and saw a pair of scissors sitting out, and then remembered I need some sandpaper for the project in the garage, I was just putting the scissors away.”

We both laughed!

“Maybe, you should eat breakfast,” she smiled at me.

I agreed, set the sand paper down, finished the coffee, and poured myself a bowl of cereal.

I was still feeling a bit jumbled when my eyes fell on the bowl.

Proverbs 3:5a NKJV — Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

It was exactly what I needed.

Sometimes, especially when my physical body is struggling, I try too hard to do things on my own.

It’s like I get blinders on, and can’t see anything outside of the tasks waiting to be done, which push and shove inside my brain for priority.

This reminder of who is in charge changed everything.

As I ate my breakfast, I praised God for His blessings and thanked Him.

I’m not the one in charge and it’s such a blessing!

Proverbs 3:5 NKJV — Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

Proverbs 3:6 NKJV — In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your blessings. Thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the cereal bowl with this verse. Lord, I acknowledge that I’m not in charge, and I was never meant to be. Thank You that You are the One Who guides and directs me. You are the One who knows all things. You are righteous and holy, and it is by Your grace and salvation I am made new. Lord Jesus, here I am, Your servant is listening…

Breakfast in bed

It was after 7:30am.

The door soundlessly opened just enough for her to see.

“Yes, I’m awake, sweetheart.”

“I was worried, you normally don’t stay in bed this late. How are you feeling?”

-sigh-

“Not fantastic. I’m very tired today.”

“Then don’t worry! I’ll make you breakfast and I’ll clean the kitchen. I don’t need much help with school today, just Math. You can tell me what you want me to do to help Jase after breakfast.”

And off she went.

It wasn’t long before her promise was made good in serving me breakfast in bed.

I’m so thankful for her sweet generous heart.

I did get up and take my daily inhaler and my other meds.

I’m back in bed, surrendering my day before the Master.

Because I know His plans are best.

Yesterday, I felt amazing.

I had many responsibilities and was blessed to get them all done!

It was incredible.

For most of this week I’ve felt pretty miserable: migraines.

But, praise God, I’m migraine free.

Yet, my body is in need of rest and I have learned to obey.

My calendar is pretty open today.

It’s a perfect day for resting.

I’ve been repeating a verse all morning, when not listening to the Bible or praying.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV — And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

In my weakness, He is strong.

I praise God.

He is so faithful.

If I’d never been sick, I’d never have seen how awesome He truly is.

Praise the Lord!

My grandmother’s china

and a second-hand teapot.

One of the lovely things about moving is you rediscover.

Our last home didn’t have space for a hutch in the dining room, so my cherished dishes were in the top of a kitchen cabinet.

With joy I unwrapped each carefully packed piece. (Thank you, Sissy and Mom for doing that!)

I’ve been able to walk by the hutch and see them.

The set belonged to my father’s mother.

Upon hearing of my approaching marriage, (now over twenty years ago) my dear Aunty Jan had called me.

She asked if I’d like to have my grandmother’s china.

I was stunned.

I asked if neither of her own daughters or her granddaughter wanted it.

“No, nobody wants it. You may have it if you like.”

I didn’t hesitate.

I told her I’d love to have it.

It didn’t matter that I’d never seen it.

My father’s mother died when I was very small and I have a few things from her which I have always cherished.

Using these cherished plates has been a rare occurrence.

Until recently I’ve been concerned something would happen to them, so they sat idle.

It was Anne who sparked an idea.

She mentioned having tea in real tea cups, poured from a pot of tea.

“You know Mom, like Grandma would do when she and I would get together. It’s one of the things I really miss.”

The Lord brought her comment to mind one morning.

So, I took out the dishes, tea cups, saucers, and stared at my three white second-hand teapots.

Which one should I use?

I chose the smallest of the three. Not really sure how much tea we’d consume during breakfast.

It’s been lovely.

We don’t use it every morning, but several times a week Anne and I drink tea from Grandmother’s china cups and I pour it from a second-hand teapot.

This mismatched set makes me smile.

It reminds me of Jesus.

He didn’t care about the person’s past, or how important or unimportant they were to others.

Jesus came to save the lost and He chose those who believed.

His chosen disciples were an assortment of people who had one thing in common, they followed Jesus.

Through Him they found eternal life and then they were the vessels God used to pass it on.

I praise God for the people He has used to pour into my life.

I praise Him both for my family and my friends.

Most of all I praise God, that even in the unimportant details of how I eat breakfast, I can be reminded of how great He is and how wonderful His works!

Breakfast?

“But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Children, have you any food? ‘ They answered Him, ‘No.’ And He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.” Luke 21:5-6

This passage continues. The disciples come ashore and eat breakfast with Jesus.

After breakfast Jesus speaks to Peter and restores him. For Peter had denied knowing Jesus.

It is interesting that this restoration happened after breakfast.

The word breakfast is simple: break and fast. After hours of sleep we wake and break the fast of not eating.

After days of shame and not being with Jesus, Peter was given his calling and restored relationship.

How does this apply?

There’s often places that are broken and need restoration.

It’s tempting to ignore the broken with busy.

To “smooth over” the hurt with excuse.

True relationship doesn’t grow when dishonesty is holding a broken place.

Often the easiest method of dealing with hurt (hurt feelings, harsh words, biting criticism, disappointment, selfishness, loss…)
isn’t the way that leads to healing.

Patterns of unhealthy behavior can come from many different sources.

However it is clear from God’s Word that we are not to continue to allow such things.

Instead we need to take the opportunity to break the unhealthy pattern and allow Christ to restore.

The first step is to admit there is an unhealthy behavior.

Second is to take it to Jesus and repent.

Thirdly, there needs to be a plan to promote good habits to replace the old one.

Fourth, hold fast, it is worth the effort to make the change but old habits die hard and it takes work to replace them.

What an encouragement that we are not alone.

Just as Peter needed a personal touch from the Lord so do we, and we don’t have to wait for breakfast, He’s ready any time of the day.