Wheelbarrow

This wheelbarrow was a gift from my husband a few years ago.

One might think it a strange thing to give, but I was thrilled to receive it.

I’d been hauling things in five gallon buckets since our last wheelbarrow broke beyond repair.

We’d been doing some digging in our yard and had uncovered so many rocks.

If you can imagine the time and effort it was requiring for me to move rocks with a five gallon bucket, you should have an understanding of the blessing of a wheelbarrow.

I’m even more thankful for it here as I clean out pens or cages and haul the refuse to the compost or into the garden.

A wheelbarrow is a simple tool which makes my life easier everyday and I’m so thankful to both my husband and the Lord for His provision.

As I was thinking about the blessings of being able to use my wheelbarrow it occurred to me that it’s such a blessing because I use it.

If I were to ignore the benefits of using it and continued to haul everything in five gallon buckets, I’d not appreciate the gift.

But it’s ridiculous to try to use five gallon buckets to move soiled hay or manure when the wheelbarrow is available.

God’s Word, salvation, and the Holy Spirit are the most incredible gifts.

Yet, how easy is it for us to return to the “old ways” of doing things rather than avail ourselves of these precious gifts?

For those who have yet to believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior, they are missing the most important gift anyone was ever offended: forgiveness from sin.

For those who believe and have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, if they are not in the Word their maturing in Christ will be extremely slow and difficult, for without the Word their spirit is starving.

For those who have both believed and are in the Word, it is folly to ignore the Holy Spirit and His place in our lives, for He was sent to Comfort and convict of sin, righteousness, and judgement.

John 16:7-8 NKJV — “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

To be truly grateful for these gifts of God we must regularly be recognizing the importance of each and diligent in our application of God’s blessings.

If I never used my wheelbarrow I’d not be blessed by the benefits it offers to my day.

As a believer if I forget the sacrifice of my Lord Jesus, or put off time in His Word, or grieve the Holy Spirit by choosing to live counter to the Word, I’m missing the incredible blessings God has bestowed.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for salvation. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit. Lord, please continue to hone my heart that I might not forget these glorious blessings in my life. Lord, cut down anything that might eat away my time and waste my attention. Lord, please reveal my heart, that when I fall into sin I’m might repent of it quickly. Lord, please continue to grow my through Your Word and direct me. Thank You for teaching me so much. Thank You for Your wonderful gifts! I love You, Lord. Amen.

Buttons

When I was a girl, my mom sewed.

She’d learned to make her own clothes in highschool and my grandparents bought her a sewing machine for her highschool graduation gift.

I remember wearing pretty frilly dresses my mother had made.

I recall trips to the fabric store.

These were normally pretty dull, because I couldn’t understand why it took so long to look through all the bolts of fabric in the big bins.

Obviously, I had no idea what discount bins were, nor why Mom was having to search through the many different types of fabric to find the ones she wanted.

But I never got tired of looking at the rows of paper-backed buttons.

When it was time for Mom to begin her sewing project, she’d carefully gather all the needed items and if she was going to use buttons on the dress, she’d get out her big jar.

Where Mom got such a large assortment of old buttons and what happened to it later, I have no idea.

I loved the button jar!

Sometimes, she’d let me dump out some and play with them.

It was one of my favorite things to do.

It felt like a treasure hunt and fun category game rolled into one.

I could sort the buttons by size and then color, and save the really unique ones by themselves.

I always felt a little put out when it was time to scoop them all back into the jar, special ones included.

Today, I got to relive the fun of that childhood memory.

A while back I got a small plastic container with a mish-mash of buttons.

I didn’t have time to sort them into my sewing box, so they’ve sat in a drawer waiting.

I’m working on a pair of little girl backpacks for our neighbors and realized I needed some buttons.

As I dumped out the container the memories of childhood popped up.

And I enjoyed this mini sorting game, looking for the “treasure” buttons that will go on the bags.

Praise and thanksgiving followed.

“Lord, thank You for providing these buttons for this project and many others.”

“Jesus, thank You for my mom, who put in so much extra time making clothes for my sister and I.”

“Lord, thank You for the ability to make things, and the supplies I need to do it.”

“Thank You, for the memory, something I’d forgotten about my childhood that You have given me back all through a few buttons.”

James 1:17 KJV — Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Praise the Lord!

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for today. Thank You for this mini reminder of my past and how You were with me then just as You are with me now. I love that You are timeless. Thank You for using such a tiny unimportant thing to bring me joy. Thank You for Your gifts, they are amazing. May my life bring glory to Your name. I love You. Amen.

God’s gifts

Psalm 111:4 KJV — He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

I had not realized how much I had wanted to learn this.

Yet, in a conversation with our Bell I realized it might be another gift from God.

He’s blessed me in so many ways, it’s overwhelming.

Yet, I’m learning to simply say, “Thank You, Lord” and walk in whatever He has for me.

Whether I view it as a blessing or not.

This circumstance was definitely a blessing.

Bell bought me the crochet thread and I began on my first table runner.

It took longer than expected.

Yet, I was excited to make it.

Everyone liked it.

Bell encouraged me to try other patterns.

So, the Lord helped me find a YouTube video and I began making these Celtic Flowers.

Once I have enough, I’ll crochet them together.

Although they are more time consuming than I’d prefer, I’m definitely learning patience.

To make each stitch carefully and to be willing to rip it out when I have made a mistake.

After I finished my second table runner, Sis looked at me.

“Mom, I really have a new appreciation for all those doilies I’ve seen over the years.”

I smiled.

“Me too!”

And in this journey of learning something new, I’m trying to be aware of other things.

How many times have I just taken things for granted?

I know my asthma has taught me to be thankful for every breath.

My crocheting has taught me to be thankful for handmade items.

My health has taught me to be thankful for pain.

Without pain, I don’t know when something is wrong.

Without the understanding of my physical or spiritual needs, I’m not going to change my habits or actions or attitudes.

Of course, all these changes are made through Christ Jesus, who helps me learn self discipline.

And as these changes occur, I find life so much more a joy.

The closer I walk with Jesus, the more I learn how to abide in His peace, His joy, and His love.

I learn how to trust Him more.

I learn how to surrender more.

Galatians 2:20 KJV — I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Truly, God’s gifts are amazing!

Fruits of the Spirit

Galations 5:22-23a

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control.

The Holy Spirit bears fruit in the lives of those who choose Jesus Christ as their Lord, as their Master.

To walk in submission to Jesus daily gives ample opportunity for the Spirit to bear fruit in that life.

And such wonderful fruit it is!

Love,

Joy,

Peace,

Long-suffering…

Wait!

How does long-suffering fit into this?

The list continues:

Kindness,

Goodness,

Faithfulness,

Gentleness,

Self-control.

Yes! These are fruits worth biting into!

Fruits which give pleasure and blessing to both the person whose heart is being fruitful in the Spirit as well as those around them.

Where does long-suffering fit?

And yet, it does.

God never makes a mistake.

Yes, this is a translation of the original.

No, the English version probably doesn’t give us the complete picture of the original language.

But, we need to remember:

Every gift from the Spirit is also present in Jesus.

We as Christ followers are to pattern our lives after His.

Is long-suffering part of Jesus’ character?

Absolutely.

He walked the Earth, constantly trying to show mankind the love of God.

He endured, misunderstanding, mockery, accusations, and tricks.

To be beaten, tortured, and then hung on a cross, because He chose to.

He defeated sin and death, once and for all.

And even after all that His name is misused, His teachings twisted, His love misunderstood.

Mankind regularly still chooses sin instead of the Savior.

Yet, He still continues to love every single person, every single day.

Yes, long-suffering is definitely a fruit of the Spirit.

And it’s one each of us needs.

To continue to love the unlovely.

To remain steadfast in times of trial, pain, and heart break.

To walk into today with joy, even though this world is broken, bruised, and bleeding.

Jesus did.

And through the gifts of the Spirit,

we can too.

Patience

Often patience is fleeting.

At least I find it so.

I think I’m patient until something happens to show the truth, I’m not patient without Jesus.

On my own I’m interested in the “now”.

I want things done.

I want to see things happen.

I want…

But wait, isn’t it better to learn how to enjoy the process?

As we work on our yard, making it more able to build, I find I’m not as patient as I’d like to think.

Yesterday as I went to the doctor, I realized I’m not as patient with my body either.

I want to be well and healthy.

I want to do things without having to think about being careful.

I want…

But wait, I want to surrender.

God knows what is best.

God is guiding us.

God is providing and in reality this illness has been used by Him in amazing ways.

Maybe I need to work on being patient.

Patience is a gift from God.

Grace and long suffering are also gifts from God.

Which is more valuable, that I get my emidiate wants or that I walk in God’s will?

Isn’t it funny how a change in perspective can help one see where the true value is!

So, I’m looking for more of Jesus in my everything.

I’m thanking Him for the blessings of discomfort to teach me patience.

I really do want His gifts, for their value is far above any physical treasure.

Even if finding those gifts means walking through discomfort.

It is the blessing of God to see life’s stretching, uncomfortable, circumstances as ultimately

a gift

of

patience.

For this world is not our home…

John 14:3

Something special

Those little unexpected,
blessings.

This ceramic jar and the flowers inside were both unexpected blessings for me.

Our oldest girl saved the pot from the trash and brought it home to me.

“It just looked like you,  Mom.”

The flowers were a gift from my father-in-law.

“Hopie, (my nickname) just cut your favorite ones off the bush and take them home.”

I did and I enjoy them each day.

That is how the Word is as well.

Often I open my Bible and find an unexpected gift.

This morning it was in Isaiah.

” For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD;  Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody. ”  51:3

Each day I am reminded this is not our home, but simply a shadow of the goodness of God in what is to come.

Yet God understands the pain and havoc sin is taking upon the people and He seeks to comfort those who are willing.

My unexpected gift,
this morning,
was not just the security in the promises to come,
but the comfort of My Father,
in today.