2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
Pause and let that set in for a moment. Me and you being molded into the image of Christ. Sinful, self-centered, strong-willed, type A - no extreme A++ perfectionist...oh yeah nothing about that is going to be easy and today, well today was no exception. Let me give you a little glimpse of my molding process...
I told baby K he could help himself to some water when all the sudden I hear water gushing, I'm thinking he is having fun w/ the frig water dispenser- that would have been easy enough to clean up! Nope! That little booger got ahold of my FAVORITE 64 oz bottle of Blackberry Crush juice FROM TRADER JOES (4 HOURS AWAY) 1/4 full and had poured the remaining yummyness all over the kitchen table and it was running all over the floor. SNIFF SNIFF. Did I mention my house cleaner just mopped the floor THIS MORNING? This is the most refreshing drink made by man! As my blood was boiling up from my toes to my eyeballs I sent the little rugrat outside BEFORE he saw the blood in my eyes. I kept trying to keep calm, asking God, "What do you want me to see? What do you want me to learn?" And it hit me...I saw communion juice...I saw Jesus' blood...more blood on Calvary poured out for ME than what was on my table and floor. It was a painful sacrifice for Him but one He was willing to do. Was I willing to clean this disaster up AND with a cheerful heart? The cheerful part is the pruning God is doing, I do not do it well!
Proverbs 15:13: A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit, and Proverbs 17:22: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Phillipians 2:14-16: Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. James 1:2-3: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
That's what I'm (we) called to do, have a cheerful joyful heart! Santification doesn't feel like that!!!! Pruning hurts. But I got what God was trying to teach me.
The kids were outside playing while I cleaned up the mess, and as I was soaking it all up I hear raindrops on the skylights. Oh no!!!! I just need them to stay outside for a few more minutes (a little rain never hurt). I hurry! And I'm glad I did. I made it to the door just in time to watch my children playing nicely together under the big tree in the sandbox (I love this) but this time was more neat-o than usual. I got to see them all each slowly discover that it was beginning to rain. Baby K was the cutest...he ran out from under the tree, held out his hands, looked up to the sky, looked at the drops on his arms, felt his hair-he was in ahhh. His expressions were priceless. Then he ran back under the protection of the tree. Now there is a thought!
I would like to say it all ended peacefully with the rain, but it didn't! My little booger picked up a wasp or bee near the pool and screamed bloody murder and about gave me a heart attack! I ran to comfort him. He was really upset, screaming and talking faster than I could understand but I did get...."dat bug got me!" "Owwww" "It hurts SUPER bad" "Kiss it" "No Daddy, Daddy kiss it" "bad bug" "It stung me, bad bug" My poor little guy. One of the BEST things about being a Momma is being there to comfort them. I love it. But this little man was also STINKY, super STINKY. You know the diapers where you think something DIED in there STINKY. No cuddlin was happening until that was dealt with - blah - the not-so-fun Momma part of parenting (but vomit is worse). So I cleaned him up, put some lavender oil on his sting, grabbed his blanket, cuddled and let the tears roll.
That's exactly what my heavenly Father does, it's what he wants to do. I can make a mess of things and he comforts me. The tears roll. He hasn't given up on me (EVEN when I fail the lessons given to me). He WILL complete his work in me (AND YOU) until the day of PERFECTION!
Philipians 1:6: 6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
Thanks for sharing! You've blessed me!
ReplyDelete