Sunday, April 22, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
Re-gift??
Wouldn't you know that just when I get done counseling about stretching, I become "Stretch Armstrong" myself! I obviously haven't won the race nor am I ahead of anyone! So, for this season, looks like I'm dealing with a bit of UN-BELIEF. I know how dangerous unbelief can be and that's why I often ask God to expose areas of my life that I don't believe. Of course, that request is a little conditional.... I only want to know about areas where I'm not believing in .......Him........or ....others, but certainly not myself!
So, I've been chattin with God on what to do with the time entrusted to me. Seems I have a little extra on my hands and would like to use it to further the Kingdom. So naturally I've entertained starting bible studies, prayer meetings, mentoring, starting a crisis center...I'm sure God gets tickled at my attempts! Of course, none of these have panned out. So, I started to entertain a part-time job.
Well, this is where the unbelief has found a home in my heart. I sing and write songs, love to cook and take pictures. I'm not a pro at any of them and keep the sharing of them guarded. I'm crippled with anxiety when singing in public. These are just gifts from God that He's given me and my family to enjoy. I don't dare offer any of this outside of my trustworthy little circle. That would be re-gifting anyway, right?
Seems God may want to enlighten me on this subject due to the few re-enforcements lately of the same general theme, (like he so graciously does when growing us!). My very best friend shared with me recently that I have no idea what it feels like to not have a singing voice and if given the gift of singing, they would belt it out everywhere and often! That was echoed again a few days later. As I started to digest it, I felt rather bad that I've been gifted with a song and feel too anxious to share. Perhaps I'm focusing too much on myself and how it reflects on me! Perhaps I've failed to BELIEVE that He CAN speak through the gifts He's given me.
Shortly after that, another dear friend and I were chatting about this part-time job. I've researched it a bit and looked at libraries and Dr. offices, you know, the places you start with when you have a high school diploma. When I asked her to help me chew on it, she immediately burst out with "Cheree, your pictures! You should start taking pictures!" Again, these are just hobbies and they are not meant for me to generate an income with, right?
So brings me to my last piece of the puzzle. I've been reading in Ecclesiastes and noting verses that speak to me. In particular, I made notice of 5:18-20, which reads,
"Here is what I have seen good and fitting: to eat, drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart." Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
Unbelief......smothered out by TRUTH! How liberating it is to know that not only have I been given permission to RE-GIFT, but to enjoy myself in the labor of it!
It's from Him, and for Him and that's why we can! What gifts do you have hidden in your treasure box that God wants you to enjoy? Re-gift, and enjoy every minute of it!
So, I've been chattin with God on what to do with the time entrusted to me. Seems I have a little extra on my hands and would like to use it to further the Kingdom. So naturally I've entertained starting bible studies, prayer meetings, mentoring, starting a crisis center...I'm sure God gets tickled at my attempts! Of course, none of these have panned out. So, I started to entertain a part-time job.
Well, this is where the unbelief has found a home in my heart. I sing and write songs, love to cook and take pictures. I'm not a pro at any of them and keep the sharing of them guarded. I'm crippled with anxiety when singing in public. These are just gifts from God that He's given me and my family to enjoy. I don't dare offer any of this outside of my trustworthy little circle. That would be re-gifting anyway, right?
Seems God may want to enlighten me on this subject due to the few re-enforcements lately of the same general theme, (like he so graciously does when growing us!). My very best friend shared with me recently that I have no idea what it feels like to not have a singing voice and if given the gift of singing, they would belt it out everywhere and often! That was echoed again a few days later. As I started to digest it, I felt rather bad that I've been gifted with a song and feel too anxious to share. Perhaps I'm focusing too much on myself and how it reflects on me! Perhaps I've failed to BELIEVE that He CAN speak through the gifts He's given me.
Shortly after that, another dear friend and I were chatting about this part-time job. I've researched it a bit and looked at libraries and Dr. offices, you know, the places you start with when you have a high school diploma. When I asked her to help me chew on it, she immediately burst out with "Cheree, your pictures! You should start taking pictures!" Again, these are just hobbies and they are not meant for me to generate an income with, right?
So brings me to my last piece of the puzzle. I've been reading in Ecclesiastes and noting verses that speak to me. In particular, I made notice of 5:18-20, which reads,
"Here is what I have seen good and fitting: to eat, drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart." Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
Unbelief......smothered out by TRUTH! How liberating it is to know that not only have I been given permission to RE-GIFT, but to enjoy myself in the labor of it!
It's from Him, and for Him and that's why we can! What gifts do you have hidden in your treasure box that God wants you to enjoy? Re-gift, and enjoy every minute of it!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Sag or Gas??
If you know me, you know how my mind wants to put a quirky spin on almost everything! So, when I first decided to create this blog, I had to think of a really good title. I was so excited as I have become very familiar with the idea of "stretching and growing" through seasons of life. So naturally, being me, I thought it would be great to have that as a theme! Within milli-milli-milli seconds, my mind went straight to trying to create an acronym, and I'm sure you've guessed it........SAG!! Seriously, that was not what my cheery little heart was looking for. So I thought, just as quickly, to flip it.....you got it.....GAS!! Really! I'm sure I'm in like company when I say neither is appealing nor do I possess them;) Which led me to remember that stretching and growing isn't appealing either! It's hard. Bare down hard at times. There's seasons that take the wind out of your sail and leaves your heart aching for answers. Like the unlikely and not at all expected diagnosis that many I love have faced. Or the pain in your heart when your 16 yr old drives herself to school for the first time after you've taken her for10 years! And then theres' just plain ole' everyday stuff. When your looking for pictures on your external hard-drive that are priceless, and can't find them, so you go and drag out the old disk that reads "backup for documents 2007" (because they're so priceless, you secured them in two places) and pop it in to retrieve them and the computer says "what would you like to do with the blank disk?"!!! (That happened to me last night!) SSTREEEEEEETCH! Hard to believe this produces any growth at all. But crazy enough, again and again, that precious King that adopted me creates in me a stronger, more wise character than I could have ever created in my own strength! I am very happy to say that being in a state of sagginess or gassiness is necessary for this girl! So sag on my friends and enjoy the gas!
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
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