Faithful Moments

Thought for the Week-Figgy Pudding

Good Morning Girlfriends!!

Okay, we have a little bit of housekeeping: I don't want y'all to panic, this is just a heads-up, over the next few weeks I'm going to (try) transition to a blog version of my Thoughts for the Week only.  I know that for some of you, email is the preferred method of transportation for these weekly pick-me-ups, but I promise to make this move as painless as possible.  Trust me--it HAS to be easy, or I will not be able to do it in the first place!  For now, we will continue as is.  I'll keep you posted on any updates as they arise.

I was driving my kids to school this morning and a thought occurred to me: I totally did not see the path that I am currently traveling on.  No, I'm not talking about the road I was driving on!  I mean, my life's path.  This journey (cheesy word) I'm on.  I've been slowly and methodically moving toward a goal for the last ten years, sort of like a chess game.  I suppose it's like a chess game--I don't really play chess.  All of the people that I have met and become incredibly close to, were all part of God's plan.  All of the decisions that I have made, both the good and the bad...The leadership positions that I have held--both the ones I asked for and the ones that were thrust into my lap: They were all part of God's Master Plan for me.  Most of these things I didn't see coming.  I didn't know that all of those things were all part of God's plan for me.  I had no idea He had been watching me, and planning for me.

Let's go to the Book and see what God has to say about His plans.  I'm going to break from my usual routine and spend a little time in the New Testament.  We are going to pick up with Jesus as He is calling His first disciples.  Can you even imagine being chosen for that team?  That would be a little bit different than being chosen for a dodge ball or Red Rover team.  Here we've got Philip, Andrew and Peter, and they are all excited because they've found the Messiah that Old Testament Scriptures spoke of.  This was a big deal.  Philip goes off to find his buddy, Nathanael.  Philip is thrilled about his find of Jesus of Nazareth , but Nathanael is a bit skeptical.  Read his reply, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" John 1:46  Philip is undeterred.  "'Come and see,' said Philip." John 1:46  Here's where the whole thing comes together, and gets really interesting.

"When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said to him, 'Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.'  'How do you know me?' Nathanael asked.  Jesus answered, 'I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.'" John 1:47-48 emphasis added

Jesus already saw Nathanael before Philip even spoke his first word to him.  Jesus had Nathanael's story laid out on a great big storyboard before Nathanael even knew what was going on.  Jesus spoke to Nate in terms he could understand.  Let me give you a little background info: the fig tree was a great place to go to sit and be still.  People would often sit under their fig tree in the early morning to pray.  It also represented God's provision, protection and His blessing.  Jesus knew everything about Nathanael.  He knew about Nate's doubts, and still He spoke nothing but words of encouragement to him.  So, what does this have to with us, right now, in today's day and time?

Well, I don't have a physical fig tree in my back yard that I regularly sit under, but I do have a spot that I like to go to sit and be still.  I like that spot.  It's my quiet place.  I know Jesus sees me there.  I know He saw me there before I even had that quiet spot in my house.  He had this path that I'm on all planned out.  I could have never seen this journey coming.  God did.  He purposefully put people in front of me to guide, direct and encourage me, so that I could fulfill the plan He has laid out for me.  My fig tree is somewhat figurative.  But His provisions are solid and real...even when the fruit that is falling looks a little shriveled and dried out.  Figgy pudding.  One of the sweetest dishes, uses the ugliest ingredients.  So, let me ask you: Where is your fig tree?  God can see you.  He has a plan for you.  Trust in Him, even if the only fruit you can see looks dried up and shriveled; trust in Him to make something sweet and wonderful from it.  Have a blessed week!

 

Thought for the Week-Pirates & Princesses

Good Morning Girlfriends!

Is anyone else rushing around?  I feel like I'm always running--although the type of running I do, doesn't seem to burn very many calories!  Jeff and I flew to Florida this past weekend to celebrate my grandparents' 65th wedding anniversary.  That kinda makes your breath catch, doesn't it?  Sixty-five years.  Wow.  I could write a completely other Thought just about that!  But today, I want to focus on direction...or rather sometimes our lack of.  You see, while we were in Florida, we actually had the opportunity to see Jeff's grandparents as well.  Ours was an incredibly fast trip.  We flew in late Thursday and booked a hotel close to the airport.  We got up early Friday and drove the hour and change down the road to spend the day with his grandparents, then drove the hour back to the hotel.  We got up early on Saturday to repeat this process, but travel an hour in the opposite direction to see my grandparents.  All of this information is important, I promise!  Many of you know how challenged I am when it comes to directions.  To put it bluntly--I'm a total disaster.  It's a miracle I can get out of my garage, it's that bad.  Well, as we were coming back to the hotel Saturday night, we rolled up to the intersection that would eventually take us to our hotel.  Jeff looked over at me and asked, "Babe, do you know which way we go?"  I was stunned speechless.  I honestly thought he needed my help for directions!  And if that was the case, we'd still be sitting at that intersection.  He just shook his head, made the turn (I still don't know which way) and said to me, "You would've made a terrible pirate! You would've been lost at sea before you got out of the bay!" 

Naturally, my mind began to circle around that.  It's true, I would have made an awful pirate!  But I would've made a fantastic princess--they never need to know where they are because other people are always around to help out!  I wanted to go to the Book and see what God had to say about this. I began to think about Spiritual gifts.  From 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 we read, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men."  God created each one of us to be uniquely different, yet to still be crafted in His image.  Of course He wouldn't make us the same.  However, the common denominator in each and every person is the same God with the same powerful and Holy Spirit.  God knows each of our strengths and each of our weaknesses.  If all of us were good at everything, we wouldn't need each other.  How much fun would that be?  We are relational beings.  We were created to be in relationship--first with God, then with each other.  Having a balance in our Spiritual gifts is an excellent way to stir all that up.

You see, I know I have no sense of direction.  It simply is not one of my gifts.  That doesn't mean I'm not useful on car trips! For instance, I'm an excellent co-pilot.  I can wrap a hamburger so that it won't leak or drip when you bite into it!  I can look for road signs that are impossible to find.  I always keep the music going.  I'm a good driver, if someone else is navigating.  What about you?  The Spirit gives different gifts to different people "as He determines" (1 Corinthians 12:11).  Maybe you have the patience of Job.  Maybe you are an excellent cook.  Do people come to you for advice?  You are gifted with wisdom.  Each of you (us) has been blessed with Spiritual gifts.  Ask God to show you what yours is today.  I would not have made a very good pirate...but I would've made an excellent princess!  Have a great week!  Be blessed!!