It's a really good thing that blogs work so that you don't have to use your voice to communicate...cause I don't have one anymore.
After an awesome weekend of cheering my team on, not only to state but to first place at regionals I am tired, happy, and sounding very much like a frog. Our boys did an awesome job and the final game was amazing...and yes, we did have a bigger and louder crowd than the home team. :) Between games we enjoyed a lot of jaw jabbing and shopping and eating. We also spent a fair amount of time stalling at the mall and Target on Friday waiting for everyone to get back to the hotel ahead of us so that we could throw Ms. Cheryl a surprise birthday party...we decided that being 50 is really being 18 with 32 years experience. Our crowd effectively "livened" the hotel (much to the chagrin of anyone trying to sleep) and we had a fun time together.
Ok...change of pace. Ya know...sometimes I am overwhelmed by how God works in my life, and the timing that is always perfect, though I often want things different. I've been really struggling with feeling like I am useless as a Christian right now. Ever hit that stage? Like you're pedalling faster than ever but the chain isn't attached to the gears? I had a conversation with a buddy about feeling like a playdough knife...like I'm supposed to be useful, but cutting through butter is difficult. He challenged me that MY significance has nothing to do with it...that it was God who would accomplish the work with anything...just so long as the "anything" was willing to be used. Still I have been frustrated by failure after failure lately. Pride, discontent, and jealosy are working hard to cut my faith to ribbons.
Today I was again encouraged...first by the words in the service this morning. Our speaker preached on never giving up. Why? Because God has commissioned and is watching over us, because the devil is trying to tear us down constantly, because we can be an encouragement to those around us, because it is God who will give us the strength. Even tonight, just now as I was reading from Isaiah I was stopped short...
"Listen to me, you islands, hear this you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, ' you are my searvant in whom I will display splendor.' But I have said 'I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God.' "
After an awesome weekend of cheering my team on, not only to state but to first place at regionals I am tired, happy, and sounding very much like a frog. Our boys did an awesome job and the final game was amazing...and yes, we did have a bigger and louder crowd than the home team. :) Between games we enjoyed a lot of jaw jabbing and shopping and eating. We also spent a fair amount of time stalling at the mall and Target on Friday waiting for everyone to get back to the hotel ahead of us so that we could throw Ms. Cheryl a surprise birthday party...we decided that being 50 is really being 18 with 32 years experience. Our crowd effectively "livened" the hotel (much to the chagrin of anyone trying to sleep) and we had a fun time together.
Ok...change of pace. Ya know...sometimes I am overwhelmed by how God works in my life, and the timing that is always perfect, though I often want things different. I've been really struggling with feeling like I am useless as a Christian right now. Ever hit that stage? Like you're pedalling faster than ever but the chain isn't attached to the gears? I had a conversation with a buddy about feeling like a playdough knife...like I'm supposed to be useful, but cutting through butter is difficult. He challenged me that MY significance has nothing to do with it...that it was God who would accomplish the work with anything...just so long as the "anything" was willing to be used. Still I have been frustrated by failure after failure lately. Pride, discontent, and jealosy are working hard to cut my faith to ribbons.
Today I was again encouraged...first by the words in the service this morning. Our speaker preached on never giving up. Why? Because God has commissioned and is watching over us, because the devil is trying to tear us down constantly, because we can be an encouragement to those around us, because it is God who will give us the strength. Even tonight, just now as I was reading from Isaiah I was stopped short...
"Listen to me, you islands, hear this you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, ' you are my searvant in whom I will display splendor.' But I have said 'I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God.' "
Isaiah 49:1-4
read the rest of the chapter for more...I am amazed. I may not see the results, I may be the cheif of sinners, I may be unfaithful to my savior again and again...yet he has commissioned me. And you. And anyone who is willing to be a playdough knife in the hands of a mighty God. What you don't see or hear is me...after all...I'm just plastic. what I pray you will see is the will of my maker.
read the rest of the chapter for more...I am amazed. I may not see the results, I may be the cheif of sinners, I may be unfaithful to my savior again and again...yet he has commissioned me. And you. And anyone who is willing to be a playdough knife in the hands of a mighty God. What you don't see or hear is me...after all...I'm just plastic. what I pray you will see is the will of my maker.
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