Sometimes, it feels like everyone else is doing so well. Achieving. Growing. Accomplishing.
While I seem stuck. In a rut. Making no great progress. Just existing. Or to be honest, just barely existing.
My tasks feel unimportant. My growth is so slow. Even I’m bored with me.
But as my pastor reminded me last night, there are no unimportant jobs in Christ’s work. And even my small contributions are worth my very best effort.
Whether I’m doing dishes…or calculating our budget…or greeting a church visitor with a smile…or praying for my church leaders… maybe sending out a get well card… these “small” efforts are important in God’s grand scheme. And I should do my best.
His goal for me isn’t great accomplishments. His goal is my growth. He wants me to keep growing to be more like Him.
And even if my growth isn’t the same as some others…
I am still growing.
Be faithful in your tasks today, my friend. God will bless your work in His way & in His time.
BECOME, v.i. becum’. pret. became, pp. become.1. To pass from one state to another; to enter into some state or condition, by a change from another state or condition, or by assuming or receiving new properties or qualities, additional matter, or a new character; as, a cion becomes a tree.
BECOM’ING,ppr., Fit; suitable; congruous; proper; graceful; belonging to the character, or adapted to circumstances; as, a dress is very becoming.
Let’s make sure that we’re becoming as we are becoming!
Romans 12:3 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
The Lord wants us to be like Him, to be conformed inwardly to the image of Jesus.
As we consider the image we’re conforming to, realize that God loves beauty and lives in a beautiful setting. Read the description John and Isaiah give:
Revelation 2:2-3 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Isaiah 1:27-28 …I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
As we study and memorize the Word of God, and conform and grow into His likeness, let’s make sure we are showing not only the spiritual growth, but also an outward glory and beauty.
There is nothing as beautiful as a smiling, pleasant face and eyes that light up when they speak to you. A kind word can be a glimpse into God’s beauty, too. Modest clothing that draws attention only to our face, and a face that glows with the peace of God is a delightful thing to see.
Like the blueberry, we have many steps between our quickening seed of salvation and our finished fruit of His likeness, but let’s be sure that with every step of the process, we’re shining with His glory and beauty.
Some time last fall, a friend of our gifted us with a box of various and sundry equipment: timers, tools, drip lines, rockwool, etc.
Several things I was able to use right away in our fishkeeping hobby. The timers were used for the lights, the rockwool for plant cuttings, and so on.
When I decided (read that as “felt compelled by the Lord”) to plan a garden, I didn’t even remember that box. But Doug did. And he dragged it inside this morning to see what treasures it held.
A watering timer for the spigot, a soil tester, several sets of drip lines (with accessories to customize them), a watering valve for several hoses from one spigot, a warming mat for seedlings, peat moss pods for seeds.
Before I had the need for all those things, God saw to it that they were supplied. He is such a good God.
And one more thing was included in that box. Something that we didn’t really need, but something that I reeeeeally wanted:
These super fancy plastic labels for the different crops in the garden. You saw in my last post that I was just writing the names of the seeds on the side of the bucket, but I was worried that would eventually rub off due to watering, rain and the heat. These little vinyl labels come with sharp picks to dig down into the soil and will be much more durable than just ink on the side of the bucket. I love them and am so excited to write all my veggies on them. 🙂
God knows our need. Before we have the need, He has a plan to meet it. Our circumstances never catch Him off-guard. He’s not surprised by the “emergencies” in our lives.
He’s already made preparation to meet all the needs I’m going to face in this lifetime, because I am His child. As a good Father, He will do only what is best for me. I can trust Him to have it all planned out.
I don’t know what you’re facing today, but if Jesus is your Saviour, I can promise you, He has already met your need before you even realized you had it. Trust Him.
More importantly, give thanks to Him for meeting your need. It will amaze you how your gratitude will transform the circumstances to bring God glory and to carry you through your trial.
Today’s management looks an awful lot like laziness. It isn’t accomplishing much, and the lack of effort being put into it is appalling.
Because, you see, the best way for me to get this week started off well, is for me to rest.
This past weekend took a lot out of me physically. I had several things on my to-do list and my physical energy is completely depleted.
Since I have an adrenal issue, I have to be super careful to allow my body to get the rest it needs. If I don’t, I have an adrenal crash. Those are painful. And scary. And deplete my body even further.
So to avoid that, I have to rest.
You may not have a physical issue that requires extra rest, but you are human! And that means you must have sleep and rest (physically, mentally, spiritually) every day.
I think we women have so much to do on a regular basis that “doing” becomes a habit. And often, our goal.
Just keep doing, doing, doing.
But are we working efficiently? Is our working accomplishing a desired end result? Is our current project even necessary?
These are only questions you and the Lord can answer together.
But I encourage you to allow yourself some down-time when you truly need it. Reject the lies of the enemy that your worth is reflected by your accomplishments.
Your worth is in Jesus. He gave His own life to forgive your sins and give you a home in Heaven with Him. *That* is where your worth lies!
So my Monday is being managed by my snuggling in my little red recliner and reading a book, as soon as I hit “Publish” on this post.
Maybe you need a nap today. If so, I hope you see what a crucial task that is for your week to go well. Go snuggle up with a book or a kiddo and rest your way into the week.
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
There are days when our hearts break.
And days when we are deeply wounded.
But the same One who numbers the stars and gives them each a name is the God who heals our broken hearts and binds up our wounded souls and minds.
He is great. His power is great. His understanding is infinite.
UNDERSTAND’ING, n. Knowledge; exact comprehension.
His ability to comprehend exactly what you are going through never ends.
The Star-name is your Heart-Healer and your Wound-Binder.
Obtaining Mercy 