When I was young, our family was driving through the beautiful mountains of Colorado. It was my first time to see it. As I looked out the car window, amazed at what I saw, I asked my mom, “is this heaven?”
All in Wisdom
Chaos Control
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me –
put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:9 NIV
When doing a sewing project, my sewing utensils get everywhere. Multiple pairs of scissors never seem to be handy when I need them. Thread pullers, pins, clips, spools of thread, and bobbins end up all over the room. I wasted time looking for things instead of sewing. It made me so irritated.
I decided to get things together. I went to a local craft store, and there it was – a fabulous organizational system for people like me. Now, everything hangs right on the wall at my fingertips. I can just reach up and grab whatever I need. I look, I see them. I use them. Easy as that.
How silly would it have been for me to have bought the organizational system and not hung it up and used it?
Sometimes life gets chaotic. Irritation with myself and even God happens. Frustrated, I ask him why he will not just fix whatever bothers me.
Then, he lovingly reminds me that he has already provided me with the “system” I need for any situation. My Bible sits right beside my bed as does my Bible study book. He has given me scriptures to memorize. Bible studies help me dive deeper into his Word and to fellowship with other believers. All these things at my fingertips, but I must grab on to them and put them into practice to receive any benefits.
When I look at that organizational system hanging on my sewing room wall, I get such a joyful feeling. Sewing is so much easier. No more mess everywhere. Likewise, looking to him and utilizing the tools he has provided bring me even more joy and peace.
Father, you lovingly lead us to what we need to manage the chaos in our lives. May we remember your words and put them into practice.
Susan Partida
(Spiritual Growth, Wisdom, Provision)
Then, he lovingly reminds me that he has already provided me with the “system” I need for any situation. My Bible sits right beside my bed as does my Bible study book. He has given me scriptures to memorize. Bible studies help me dive deeper into his Word and to fellowship with other believers. All these things at my fingertips, but I must grab on to them and put them into practice to receive any benefits.
Asking for Wisdom
Downsizing required leasing rental units for what I expected might be several weeks. However, weeks turned to months, and months turned to a year. At the end of that year, I gasped in disbelief when checking one of the units. Mold, dust, and spider webs covered the furniture that roaches now called home.
Fun
Has a single word ever convicted you? Maybe it was your “Word of the Year?” Predominantly, my annual words have been topics or scripture-based commands by which the Holy Spirit convicted me. Recently, I was humbled when the Lord convicted me of “wait” and “together” not just one, but two years in a row
The Abundant Path
Offers for ways to live an abundant life are everywhere. If you just have this or do that, you will be fulfilled. Really?
An Unexpected Treasure
Downsizing required sorting multiple boxes of yellowed childhood treasures. The task felt daunting. One item, though, made the experience worth the effort—a folded piece of manila paper with a title scribed by a child. “Prays and Verses.”
Serving God
My siblings and I often complained that Mother never watched television with us. The reason? She fell asleep whenever she sat down! Once I became a mother, I quickly understood the exhaustion from her long day of serving her family.
Watch Out for the Potholes
One particularly cool spring morning, I had decided that I was going to walk around the
neighborhood and catch up on reading my emails in the process. I thought I was being wise with my multi-tasking skills until I found myself down on the ground.
Life is Short
Each week I move a button from one jar on my desk to another. One jar has enough buttons to represent each week I hope to live until I reach age 70. The other jar holds buttons for each week I’ve completed.
Crossroad
As I sat at a crossroad, I was unsure of which direction to turn.
I have never had a good sense of direction.
If anyone gets lost… it’s me.
Can you relate?
New Growth
Walking through fields of beautiful flowers… amazing!
I don’t have to know much about gardening to enjoy it… thankfully.
I know that if mixed correctly, flowering plants, dirt, sun, water, time… out comes beautiful flowers!
God does the growing!
I don’t have to know all the details of how… I can just be amazed by the results.
Six Reliable Resources for Hard Questions
We all wrestle with tough questions at times.
I’ve had this one surface lately: Does prayer change God’s mind?
(The short answer is no. But then, we’re left wondering why should we pray?)
A Way to Pray
I recently discovered a dried clump of playdough in the back of my pantry. As I held it in my hands, the weight reminded me of how my heart feels sometimes for a brother or sister in Christ. I falter in knowing how to pray for them. That’s when I look to Paul who recorded one of his prayers for believers in his New Testament letter to the Colossians. His prayer guides me in my own.