the Lord, my portion
Today has been one of those days. I know I seem to describe about 60 percent of my days like this…but today was no exaggeration… it was a “real deal”–one of those days. I think I must have had a little extra of what Emma Faye was suffering from… I’d like to think the Lord answered my prayers when I kept praying “Lord, please just take this sickness from her… give it to ME…please, Lord” I can’t describe the feeling of fear that covered me last week… I could hardly see through Satan’s blanket over my eyes…. Doctors talking “diseases”….”bad viruses”…. “infections”… I realized last week how we rest in the mercy of our Lord. We are guaranteed nothing on this earth–yet through Christ guaranteed EVERYTHING…..salvation….comfort… strength… peace…. healing…hope… and joy even in suffering. It’s a very strange place to be…. Helplessly being held in our Redeemer’s arms….yet completely comforting…..completely restful. He is our hands, our feet, our voice… our joy… He takes on our sorrow….and carries our burdens. Why can’t we let him?
This morning I was watering our flowers at 6:30am with my sweet early bird, Josh. :) I used to fight this… literally screaming at a whisper level to him every morning for probably the first year of his life…about how no one needs to get up until 7am….. and all of this was to no avail. I surrendered to the fact that he is who he is… I, therefore, force my “night owl” self to go to bed at a reasonable hour so I can meet him in the morning with a cheerful heart. It has been very sweet. It’s our time together and I cherish my early mornings now with my precious son. Anyway, we were out doing our routine little watering and he asked me “Mommy, why is the grass wet?” Without even thinking I said, “That’s called ‘dew’…. God sends the little drops to feed all the plants so they may have a little water each day before the summer heat sets in—to help them grow”
Suddenly the bible passage that I had read in a haste this morning came to my mind… I didn’t know why I started thinking about it… but now… after my difficult day of being sick and still having to be mommy to three little ones…. I realize now that this particular passage had fallen like morning dew on my heart…preparing me for my day before I even knew that I was going to be sick–before the “summer heat” of my day had set in, so to speak.
God’s gifts of grace come in many forms. Each of you has received a gift in order to serve others. You should use it faithfully. If you speak, you should do it like one speaking God’s very words. If you serve, you should do it with the strength God provides. Then in all things God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Give him the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11)
My day could have been a disaster…..well.. it wasn’t great… I guess I’ll say… my heart could have been a disaster today. I could have spent the entire day watching TV and forcing my children to leave me alone… complaining to my husband….ranting and raving… crying and sobbing….but it was the grace of God that carried me through THIS day. I kept praying through my words….Lord, help me be like one speaking God’s very words….. Help me serve with the strength that YOU provide. God was faithful. My friends… we have all been given gifts. Most of you who read this blog have been given the gift of being a mother and/or a wife….”use it faithfully.” Serve your family…..speak Christ’s words… fall into Christ’s strength……only THEN will we see Christ move and work in our lives. I praise Him today. Anything peaceful and calm in me was certainly in and of HIMSELF. I give him ALL praise for my day. I still feel a little sick….but I’m joyful. I live a blessed life. The beauty of grace, as Peter explains, is that it comes in many forms…. there are no formulas, no recipes, there is not a limited supply….it is simply offered for our taking at a perfect time when our precious Savior knows that we need it the most. So, open your hearts… hold out your hands…… and catch the morning dew.
This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
”The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
”Therefore I have hope in Him.” (Lamentations 3:21-24)
