Drip. Drip. Drip. The water splashed rhythmically on the rock. At first, it was like a refreshing spray, bouncing off the solid stone, and evaporating into the fresh air.
Plop. Plop. Plop. Day after day. Week after week. The constant dripping of the water was no longer pleasant, but annoying and destructive. The constant drops began to wear a hole in the rock. Rocks, as solid as they appear, can be worn down by the constant dripping of the seemingly much softer element of water. And rocks cannot repair themselves like flesh. Once the hole is formed, it cannot be restored.
Life can be much like this dripping of water. Repeated offenses. On-going attacks. Constant annoying reminders of hurts and mistakes of the past can wear a hole right through our hearts. The solid foundations of our minds and hearts cannot escape the erosion of the drippings of betrayal, loss, and consequences of sin, be it ours, or others. At times, we can feel much like that rock with a hole in the center. Irreparable. Unable to be the same again.
And yet, what happens to these rocks with holes? They become collectors’ treasures! They are sought out by those who desire to lift them out of the pile of stones in the river’s bottom, and make them into wondrous jewelry fit for display on the neck or wrist of a King.
Isn’t that just like Jesus? He seeks the lost and wounded; the ones with holes from the drippings of offense, and lifts them out of the miry clay. He cleans them with His breath and polishes them with His hands. He takes us from the raging river bottom to the jewelry box of the King!
“Lord, help us to realize that when we feel helpless and “holey” that You are there to makes us whole and lovely and an adornment for Your glory. Amen.”
By Charlotte Saben 2000
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
MOUNTAINS OR MOLEHILLS
Remember the old saying, “You could make a mountain out of a molehill?” I heard it many times from my mother and my husband who both felt “led” of God to point out my frustrations.
One day, angry at this comment and feeling as though my “mountain” was being down-sized rather than the other way around. I went to the only comfort that really lasts. God. His word is a comfort to my soul. He understands l ike no other! That is why He is called the Wonderful Counselor!
I discovered in my reading that God addresses mountains, but He doesn’t mention molehills. Could it be because He knows our finite minds tend perceive monumental mountains when He sees them as simple challenges?
We trip on, or fall into, the molehills we do not obviously see. But mountains overwhelm us. Perhaps they make us turn to Him.
He speaks to the problem of mountains. He says that if we have faith WE can speak to this mountain and tell it to be cast into the sea. AND IT WILL BE DONE! I had always thought this passage to bee strange, since I had not seen nor heard of anyone moving any mountains.
Now I began to correlate this analogy. The mountains I make, perhaps out of molehills at times, can be driven into the sea of God’s forgiveness and love. The key is, I must trust Him. I must have faith. And faith is the substance of things not seen and evidence of things hoped for! I had to envision my problems as mountains and then cast them into the sea in order to gain god’s perspective on the matter.
The Bible also tells us that God gives His people hinds feet to leap OVER the mountains of life. I began to see that there were perceived mountains in my life that I could not yet speak to. I could not face them. They overwhelmed me in my weakness. But I could come to the Mountain of Calvary. Kneel at the feet of my Lord, and receive hinds’ feet to leap over or climb in the midst of the mountain. I could gain a higher perspective.
I realized that often I choose to ignore hurts and offenses. Though this seems like a godly solution, it turns often into a pesky molehill, causing me to trip and twist my ankle in my walk with God. But allowing myself to perceive them as they felt, truly like a mountain, at the foot of the Cross, can give me hinds’ feet or faith to speak to the pain and see it truly brought down.
Thank you Jesus, for Mount Calvary and for the mountains in my life. May all my molehills turn to mountains!
Remember the old saying, “You could make a mountain out of a molehill?” I heard it many times from my mother and my husband who both felt “led” of God to point out my frustrations.
One day, angry at this comment and feeling as though my “mountain” was being down-sized rather than the other way around. I went to the only comfort that really lasts. God. His word is a comfort to my soul. He understands l ike no other! That is why He is called the Wonderful Counselor!
I discovered in my reading that God addresses mountains, but He doesn’t mention molehills. Could it be because He knows our finite minds tend perceive monumental mountains when He sees them as simple challenges?
We trip on, or fall into, the molehills we do not obviously see. But mountains overwhelm us. Perhaps they make us turn to Him.
He speaks to the problem of mountains. He says that if we have faith WE can speak to this mountain and tell it to be cast into the sea. AND IT WILL BE DONE! I had always thought this passage to bee strange, since I had not seen nor heard of anyone moving any mountains.
Now I began to correlate this analogy. The mountains I make, perhaps out of molehills at times, can be driven into the sea of God’s forgiveness and love. The key is, I must trust Him. I must have faith. And faith is the substance of things not seen and evidence of things hoped for! I had to envision my problems as mountains and then cast them into the sea in order to gain god’s perspective on the matter.
The Bible also tells us that God gives His people hinds feet to leap OVER the mountains of life. I began to see that there were perceived mountains in my life that I could not yet speak to. I could not face them. They overwhelmed me in my weakness. But I could come to the Mountain of Calvary. Kneel at the feet of my Lord, and receive hinds’ feet to leap over or climb in the midst of the mountain. I could gain a higher perspective.
I realized that often I choose to ignore hurts and offenses. Though this seems like a godly solution, it turns often into a pesky molehill, causing me to trip and twist my ankle in my walk with God. But allowing myself to perceive them as they felt, truly like a mountain, at the foot of the Cross, can give me hinds’ feet or faith to speak to the pain and see it truly brought down.
Thank you Jesus, for Mount Calvary and for the mountains in my life. May all my molehills turn to mountains!
Friday, September 18, 2009
In Tune With Him
In Tune With Him
“I am absolutely right!” Those were my feelings as well, but they came from the mouth of another. And we did not agree.
She was a person whom God had given to help in the children’s ministry that I was directly responsible for.
I wanted to argue the point and to remind her who was “in charge”, but I had long ago realized that falling into that trap does not further the Kingdom. So, I went to the King instead.
I often spent time in the sanctuary of the church where I was on staff, and walked around while I prayed. And God had a tremendous lesson in store for me that day.
I felt very impressed to go to a specific corner and stand facing the pews. I looked around at the pews and the grand piano and other instruments.
Following what I felt was a leading of the Holy Spirit, I went from one corner to the next, gazing out at the sanctuary fixtures and furnishings.
In one particular corner, I realized that I did not have the view of the piano. (The room was neither rectangular nor square). One could stand here and effectively argue that there was NO piano in the room if they refused to move out of their corner.
That’s when it hit me! She was NOT in the same corner as I was! Her view point differed greatly because she was standing in a different place than I was. She did not see the “piano” which seemed so obvious to me!
I realized too, that only God could move her beyond her corner to a wider view. It was HIS job, not mine. That settled it. I should continue to do what was right…play my piano, so to speak, and let God move her. If she complained about the music, it was His business to lead her to the piano. I could argue all day and night and never make her see the piano. She would be moved only by God.
I received peace that day. I was right! So was she! God had us in different corners, which created different perspectives! So, I prayed that some day she would see the piano and enjoy the music! And I think she did…in His time!
“I am absolutely right!” Those were my feelings as well, but they came from the mouth of another. And we did not agree.
She was a person whom God had given to help in the children’s ministry that I was directly responsible for.
I wanted to argue the point and to remind her who was “in charge”, but I had long ago realized that falling into that trap does not further the Kingdom. So, I went to the King instead.
I often spent time in the sanctuary of the church where I was on staff, and walked around while I prayed. And God had a tremendous lesson in store for me that day.
I felt very impressed to go to a specific corner and stand facing the pews. I looked around at the pews and the grand piano and other instruments.
Following what I felt was a leading of the Holy Spirit, I went from one corner to the next, gazing out at the sanctuary fixtures and furnishings.
In one particular corner, I realized that I did not have the view of the piano. (The room was neither rectangular nor square). One could stand here and effectively argue that there was NO piano in the room if they refused to move out of their corner.
That’s when it hit me! She was NOT in the same corner as I was! Her view point differed greatly because she was standing in a different place than I was. She did not see the “piano” which seemed so obvious to me!
I realized too, that only God could move her beyond her corner to a wider view. It was HIS job, not mine. That settled it. I should continue to do what was right…play my piano, so to speak, and let God move her. If she complained about the music, it was His business to lead her to the piano. I could argue all day and night and never make her see the piano. She would be moved only by God.
I received peace that day. I was right! So was she! God had us in different corners, which created different perspectives! So, I prayed that some day she would see the piano and enjoy the music! And I think she did…in His time!
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