On August
9, 2012 I was praying for some answers regarding some things which
had been going on in our life recently. Here is the path I took that
morning in discovering how the Lord was using a difficult time to
help me walk in contentment regardless of my circumstances...
First I
read Matthew 12:50, “For whoever does the will of my Father in
heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (NIV, 1984) I
thought of Paul talking about spiritual milk and solid food, so I
found that passage and began reading 1 Corinthians 3.
Paul is
chastising the church body at Corinth for needing milk instead of
solid food. Why? Because they are arguing among themselves as to
who belongs to Paul and who to Apollos (verses 1-4). For this, Paul
says, they are showing themselves to be of the flesh, unspiritual,
“under the control of ordinary impulses” (verse 3), behaving
“like mere unchanged men.” Verse 5 asks what is Paul and Apollos
- the answer follows:
“Ministering
servants [not heads of parties] through whom you believed, even as
the Lord appointed to each his task: I planted, Apollos watered, but
God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase. So
neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God
Who makes it grow and become greater. He who plants and he who
waters are equal (one in aim, of the same importance and esteem), yet
each shall receive his own reward (wages), according to his own
labor. For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers
together) with and for God; you are God's garden and vineyard and
field under cultivation, [you are] God's building.” 1 Corinthians
3:5-9, Amplified
Here I
stopped and read Isaiah 61:1-3, as verse 3 was referenced after 1
Corinthians 3:9. Here is the passage from Isaiah, as it seems
appropriate on this eve of 2013.
The
Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and
qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the
poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual]
captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who
are bound,
To
proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and
the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
To
grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them
an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil
of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise
instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be
called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent,
distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God],
the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Isaiah
61:1-3, Amplified
I
also thought of Paul's words in verse 6. I mused about whether we
were being planted, needing to be watered, doing some planting, or a
combination of the three. I wondered about what kind of solid food
we might be in need of. It all boils down to trust. Whatever the
reason for the unexpected turn our lives were taking, I continued to
write, “I trust You, Jesus, as we enter an entirely new season in
our lives.”
You,
Lord, seem to be reorganizing our lives in many areas...all at once.
I feel like a shaker, turned over and shaken hard - as things come
out which are dead and useless, room is made for the new things You
have planned for us! I also trust that it is You who will be making
us grow - whether we're being watered, planting, watering, or still
being planted in some way. May I keep my eyes fixed on You as You
continue to show me the difference between “wants” and “needs.”
Like
a closed fist, I hold on tight to things. Yet You, in Your love and
mercy, are gently pulling them open, one finger at a time as You
whisper, “Tanya, you don't need that. Here is something better.”
Oh, Jesus as You refine me, I want the lessons to stick - I don't
want to go back to old ways.
Once
I thought I needed:
a
dryer. But I lived without one for 5 1/2 weeks and
learned to depend more on You. I had to wait for the weather to be
right in order to do laundry, and then I had to focus on it so that
the day wouldn't be wasted! I saw the blessing of being done
with laundry by sunset - more rest!
a
dishwasher. After using it for a few days, we noticed
a residue on the dishes. Not knowing whether it was soap or hard
water deposits, we began to do all of the dishes by hand. After a
month or so, I found it takes just about the same time to wash by
hand. There's something soothing in hand washing dishes, especially
when Ken dries and we get a chance to talk.
a
large island. Our other house had a huge island, kind
of triangular shaped with sides “a” and “b” about 4 feet.
Our farmhouse island is about 24 inches by 30 inches. In fact, it's
the first thing my family commented on when we sent them a link to
the listing after we had made an offer. However, the small one we
have is still large enough to work at. AND it makes us keep the
clutter away or there would be NO ROOM to work! A large island
that's cluttered gives little work space and more stress!
air
conditioning. It did not work when we turned it on in early
June. We had two mortgages, two electric bills, two water bills, you
get the idea. We decided that paying for a repair and then the
electric bill from running it was not worth the limited resources in
our emergency fund. We lived without it the whole summer and have
seen, again, how You care for us. We depend on You for cool
nights, cool mornings and cool breezes (though we did buy 3 fans).
We've
learned the benefit of the natural diurnal cycle You set in order
and appreciate it so! We actually cool off overnight as the air
comes in the open windows - except, of course, when there is a heat
burst and the temperatures go up overnight instead of down! The
first cold front of the season was so much sweeter this year, as we
opened the windows during the day - Saturday, August 4th.
We praised You as the temperatures dropped with sunshine and a
north wind in Kansas!
a
gas stove. The farmhouse has an electric stove. I
MUCH prefer a gas stove. We had a line put in for a gas stove when
we first moved in...and that's where we're at. But I have learned
to be content with an electric stove - cooking, baking, and
cleaning it!
As
I wrote the list above, I thought of Paul writing how he learned to
be content in all things. Here is the passage from the Amplified
translation.
Not
that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have
learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am
not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever
state I am.
I
know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances,
and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I
have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing
every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a
sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.
I
have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am
ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses
inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s
sufficiency].
Philippians
4:11-13, Amplified
If
you read the post “A Tale of Two Thermometers and An Abundant
Life,” you know that we are now using our wood stove to heat our
home. As we burn wood that we did not chop, I am reminded of the
Lord's warning to the Israelites when they finally reached the
Promised Land. He told them that when they lived in houses and
cities they did not build and ate from vineyards and olive groves
they did not plant or tend to be sure NOT to forget the Lord their
God who gave them all of those good things (Deuteronomy 6). We have
their example of what happens when we forget Him (think exile)! In
light of that, I often thank Him for the blessing of those who
chopped the wood that keeps our home warm. For it was not our hands
which did the work.
As
2012 draws to a close, I wonder what 2013 will bring to our family.
What other adventures does the Lord have in store for us? For
indeed, it has been an adventure! One new thing we're preparing for
is keeping bees. A friend ordered them for us and we ought to get
them in April, the Lord willing! Oh, the sweet taste of honey...but
there is something sweeter yet...
O
taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good!
Blessed
(happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes
refuge in Him.
Psalm
34:8, Amplified
Thanks Tanya...I needed this today.
ReplyDeleteLove the verse you chose for Beth Moore's scripture team! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks to both of you!
ReplyDelete