Using the Good China

Tonight, for the first time in a long time, I used the good china...

It all started a few days ago when I suggested to my husband that we choose a book we could read together. He chose John Ortberg's, "If You Want To Walk On Water, You've Got To Get Out Of The Boat". 

In the book, Ortberg tells the story of his grandmother's china. After his grandmother's death, her china was discovered in the attic. It wasn't just your run-of-the-mill dinnerware, it was exquisite, irreplaceable hand painted china with inlaid mother of pearl, rimmed with gold. But no one could remember ever seeing it. Eventually some older family members were questioned and the story was uncovered.

When his grandmother was young, she had received the china as gifts, one piece at a time over a period of many years. Because the china was so valuable and she feared it may be broken if it were used, when she received the gifts, she wrapped them carefully in tissue, put them in a box and stored them in the attic for a special occasion. Apparently no occasion special enough ever came along so his grandmother went to her grave with the greatest gift of her life unopened and unused.

We have all received gifts (and I'm not just talking about china). We all have talents and abilities that were meant to be used for God's glory. Along with those gifts comes a choice... will we use them or in fear keep them hidden away.

So that's why I used the good china tonight. I guess it was my way of saying I want to be the kind of person who uses my gifts. I want to be the kind of person who is willing to take the risk and get out of the boat. I want to be the kind of person who sees failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Lessons From the Play Yard

Just the other day I was out in the play yard helping to supervise the children. A couple of girls called me over to help settle a dispute over the rubber ball swing. Apparently one of the older boys had taken control and was refusing to let the girls have a turn. I told him that was not okay. I suggested that he be kind and share with my friends, but he had other ideas.

So, what else could I do? I took hold of the rope of the swing and said, "Okay, it's my turn now." My intention was to take control of the situation and make things better for everyone involved. However, one of the boys misunderstood my intentions. He began yelling, "No, no, no! Don't get on the swing, you'll pop it!

Kids really do say the darndest things...

But when I honestly think about it, I realize I'm really not so different from that little boy, especially when it comes to spiritual things. I have to admit, sometimes when God exerts his authority and takes control of a situation in my life I don't always like it. I don't always understand his intentions. I don't say it out loud, but inside I'm thinking, no, no, no! I'm afraid that God is going to take away something that is precious to me or not allow me to have something that I'm convinced I need. I'm sure he's going to change things just when I got comfortable with how they were.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:8-11
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to remember that you are always working on my behalf to bring about what you know is best for me. I may not understand it and I may not like it, but I know that I can trust you. I can trust you to be faithful. I can trust you to keep your word. I can trust you to love me... even when I'm thinking no, no, no!

Headed In the Wrong Direction

"Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path." 
- Galatians 6:1a (NLT)

Just the other day I was out running errands. I was headed down Sunnyvale Saratoga Road, going along with the traffic when all of a sudden there was a car coming up the road... headed in the wrong direction. Horns began to honk and drivers frustrated with this interruption to their agendas began yelling their objections. The driver headed the wrong way sat in her car unmoving, obviously shaken and unsure of what to do. 

Then to the left I notice a van pull over and stop. Two men got out of the van. One of them stood in the middle of the road and addressed us. "Stop yelling at her," he said. "She doesn't need you honking and yelling at her. She needs help." 

I have to admit that at times I, too, can get so caught up with my own agenda that I fail to notice the needs of those around me. I fail to notice that someone is headed in the wrong direction and could use some help getting back on the right path. Instead I see someone getting in the way of what I'm trying to accomplish... forgetting that what's really important is what God is working to accomplish.

Lord, give me eyes to see what you see, ears to hear what you hear, and a heart that responds to the fears and needs of other with a love that looks like yours. Help me to set aside my own agenda and allow you to use me as you choose to be a blessing to others who just need a little help getting back on the right path... headed in the right direction.

Another Birthday

My middle son's name is Stephen and today is his 19th birthday. Stephen is just precious!

Now I realize that as a 19 year old young man, precious is probably not the first adjective you would want used to describe you. Perhaps handsome, intelligent, witty, fun, athletic, hard-working, friendly, crazy, kind, generous, compassionate... Stephen is all of that and more, but I'm the mom and this is my blog and I say he's precious.

Pre.cious [pre sh es] - adjective 1. of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly. 2. greatly loved or treasured by someone.

See, I'm right! Those of you who know him will have to agree. Stephen is of great value. That's how God created him... full of strength, character and potential to be and do great things. I think we've only just begun to see the awesomeness that is Stephen.

So, Stephen, my prayer for you today and every day is that you will know that you are greatly loved and treasured. You are precious!

Have I Dreamed Too Little?

Some days I think that there must be something else, something more I should be doing... or trusting God to do through me. Something more fulfilling, more eternally valuable.

For me it's much easier to stay where it's comfortable, where I can see the shore. But I sense that I need to be venturing out in new ways. I need to dare to try new things and trust God for the outcome. I need to rest in God's promise that he will daily provide my needs while I focus on eternal things. I need to lose sight of land and find the stars.

"Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim. Disturb us, Lord to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push into the future in strength, courage, hope and love." (Attributed to sixteenth-century explorer Sir Francis Drake.)

Ducks

To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment. - Jane Austen

Are We Home?

I have a junk drawer. Ok, I have more than one junk drawer. And though there are some (like my husband) who may be critical of my junk drawers, today I am once again reminded of the treasure that can be found lurking beneath the junk.

Today I found a piece of paper with this written on it...

"Our waiting should always be shaped by alertness to the Word of God that comes to us in such mysterious ways." (Even from the bottom of my junk drawer.) "It is waiting in the knowledge that someone wants to address us. The question is, are we home? Are we at our address, ready to respond to the doorbell?"

I've been waiting for six months now. That's how long I have been looking for a job. Waiting to see where God would want me to be. But have I been at home, or out to lunch? Have I been so focused on the end result of finding a job that I'm missing the wonderful time of rest God has allowed? Am I actually right where God wants me for now?

Even though I know better, it's so easy to be anxious about so many things. But today I'm reminded that I can trust God to provide what I need, when I need it. It may not look like what I anticipated or come when I expected it, but I know that God is faithful. My part is to stay alert and ready to respond.

Lord, I know that you are working on my behalf and I can trust you. Thank you for reassuring me again today that you have not forgotten me.... you know my address. Whenever you're ready to ring my doorbell, I'll be at home waiting for you.

A Little Pencil

I find that I often see spiritual significance in ordinary, everyday things. I'm not quite sure why. Perhaps it has to do with years of Sunday School object lessons. Whatever the reason may be, I recently noticed something interesting in Mr. Proulx's E11 Classroom Expectations. It has to do with pencils.

I'll quote directly from the classroom rules and procedures: "Pencils - It is the nature of pencil lead to dull with constant use. You should expect your pencils (whether mechanical or other) to require your responsible attention throughout this course. Sharpening a pencil, or undertaking a quest for appropriate sized lead during class is inconsiderate and demonstrates a failure to prepare for the classroom. Sharpening your pencil should be accomplished before the bell rings."

Mother Theresa once said, "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." I would suggest that the same is true of you and me if we have entrusted our lives into God's hands and asked him to use us. So then, how can we stay sharp and ready to be used?

I think the answer can be found in becoming very familiar with the pencil sharpener. Being held in God's hands is not always about 'writing'. Sometimes it's about 'sharpening'. God knows that for us to write well, we need to be sharpened regularly. So, when we read God's Word, he sharpens us. When we pray and listen for his response, he sharpens us. When we meet together and worship with other believers, he sharpens us. When we share our faith story with others, he sharpens us. When we trust God in spite of our difficult circumstances, he sharpens us.

Have you noticed that after a pencil is sharpened, the pencil is smaller? That's how it should be with us. Just as John the Baptist said in John 3:30, "He must become greater. I must become less." After all, it's not really about the pencil, it's about the sharpener... it's about the writer.

Lord, I may be just a plain old yellow No. 2 pencil, but I believe that in your hands even I can be used to accomplish great things. I pray that you will always be able to find me sharpened and ready for your use. Use me to write a letter to those who need to know your love. Use me as you choose. Use me for your glory.

All You Can

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

- John Wesley

Apple Hill

I've just returned from an adventure to Apple Hill. And let me tell you, if there's one thing you're sure to find at Apple Hill, it's apples. All kinds of apples. There are red apples and green apples. Tart apples and sweet apples. Soft apples and crunchy apples. Many varieties... but all still apples.

The apples are used in countless ways. There's apple pie, apple fritters, apple strudel, apple doughnuts, apple salad, caramel apples, apple milkshakes, apple juice, apple butter, apple syrup, applesauce and even apple fudge. Many uses... but all still apples.

Some apples are better in pie, others are better for applesauce. Some are prefect for juice. Many purposes... but all still apples.

It seems to me believers are a lot like apples. We come in all kinds of varieties and can be used in many different ways for many different purposes... but all still believers. Romans 12:6 (The Message) says, "Let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefullly comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't."

So what is your speciality? What were you created for?

If it's serving, then serve!

If it's teaching, then teach!

If it's encouraging, then encourage!

If it's contributing to the needs of others, do it generously!

If it's leadership, then govern diligently!

If it's showing mercy, do it cheerfully!

(Romans 12:7-8)

Lord, help me to be content just being who you made me to be. Instead of striving to measure up to other people's expectations, help me to strive to please you. Instead of comparing myself to others, help me to recognize your grace and acceptance and love for me just as I am. Instead of feeling inadequate for the task, help me to trust in your strength and provision.