It amazing how God uses the "simple" drudgery of life to teach me lessons. This usually happens when least expected. And so it was, this morning...the dust on the ceiling fan. Yes, you read it correctly.
A few weeks ago, I had asked Agape if he could clean the dust off the fan, but we needed the duster sheets. So it didn't get done. This morning I happened to look up, and clearly saw dust bunnies nesting on the fan. I got the duster, and proceeded to take care of the problem.
As the dust fell to the floor, I was reminded of sin. When I leave sin in my heart, and do not take care of it, it will grow. Sin multiplies quite fast, left unattended. We usually "nurse" our sin by making excuses. I had my list of excuses for not cleaning the fan—no dusting sheets, my arms are too short, I'm not tall enough, I could fall, etc.
After I had the dust bunnies swept together and in the waste basket, the room even felt cleaner. I feel so much cleaner, if my sin is taken away and I am washed by the blood of Jesus. Forgiveness feels so good. No one else in the house may notice the clean fan, but it is clean. When Jesus cleans my heart of sin, I feel peaceful freedom.
One more little lesson in this "dust" story. When did I see the dust? When I looked up? When I look to Jesus, the sin will show up. When I look into the mirror of His Word, the Holy Spirit will convict me. When I look up, He will take me in His arms and wash away all my "dust bunnies" hiding in my heart. Thank you, Jesus.
His Grace Abounds
Barb
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
"Small Favors"
'For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, truly I say to you that he will never lose his reward” (Mark 9:41)
Do I pass by the "small" favors because I think God is looking for bigger? Am I willing to accept blessings from another? When we serve someone in the Name of Jesus, or someone serves me in His Name, there is a blessing.
We often will categorize that which is important to God. What's a cup of water anyway? It's only a cup of water. During my years in Haiti, this verse became reality to me. In a country when water isn't always accessible, people walk everywhere, and it is hot and dusty, water is a blessing.
No favors or good deeds in the Name of Jesus are trivial. We never know what a blessing our "favor" will be to the receiver. Let me give you an example: One of my friends (we are in the same Bible Class) felt she was to give another lady a gift. The Lord showed her what to give, it was "something" from her house. She thought it strange, as she was thinking to buy something, but no peace with that idea. She knew she was to give her the "item" from her house. So she wrapped it, and the next week gave it to the lady. When she saw it, she burst into tears, knowing exactly the reason for this gift.
Obedience is so important even when we don't understand. The small and mundane is Big in God's sight. Nothing is mundane. Let's not miss the blessing for us or for others.
One of my friends is a fairly new Christian, newly baptized. She wanted a cross as a reminder what Jesus has done for her. As she shopped she just couldn't find the "right" one. Later another gal, who also knew her, felt she was to give her a gift for her baptism, decided to give her the cross that was given to her when she was baptized. What a surprise and blessing when the gift was opened and found the perfect cross, and now even more precious because a friend had given it to her without knowing that she was even wanting one!
Don't pass by the small and insignificant today. Bless someone with a "cup of water."
His Grace Abounds
Barb
Do I pass by the "small" favors because I think God is looking for bigger? Am I willing to accept blessings from another? When we serve someone in the Name of Jesus, or someone serves me in His Name, there is a blessing.
We often will categorize that which is important to God. What's a cup of water anyway? It's only a cup of water. During my years in Haiti, this verse became reality to me. In a country when water isn't always accessible, people walk everywhere, and it is hot and dusty, water is a blessing.
No favors or good deeds in the Name of Jesus are trivial. We never know what a blessing our "favor" will be to the receiver. Let me give you an example: One of my friends (we are in the same Bible Class) felt she was to give another lady a gift. The Lord showed her what to give, it was "something" from her house. She thought it strange, as she was thinking to buy something, but no peace with that idea. She knew she was to give her the "item" from her house. So she wrapped it, and the next week gave it to the lady. When she saw it, she burst into tears, knowing exactly the reason for this gift.
Obedience is so important even when we don't understand. The small and mundane is Big in God's sight. Nothing is mundane. Let's not miss the blessing for us or for others.
One of my friends is a fairly new Christian, newly baptized. She wanted a cross as a reminder what Jesus has done for her. As she shopped she just couldn't find the "right" one. Later another gal, who also knew her, felt she was to give her a gift for her baptism, decided to give her the cross that was given to her when she was baptized. What a surprise and blessing when the gift was opened and found the perfect cross, and now even more precious because a friend had given it to her without knowing that she was even wanting one!
Don't pass by the small and insignificant today. Bless someone with a "cup of water."
His Grace Abounds
Barb
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