However, I fear that I was not such a "blessing" to others this week. Lately my work has had its challenges, and there are times that I get a little out of sorts and impatient when things don't go exactly as planned. Having such responsibilities doesn't always bring out the best in me. I allowed my frustrations to overflow my better sense of handling things with wisdom and patience...and my tongue got the better of me. It spoke when it shouldn't have spoken...when it would have been better to refrain from speaking at all...
All on the same day that I had planned to share a devotional with our staff...to tell them about "Counting 1000 Gifts" (see www.AnnVoskamp.com), on the very same morning that I wanted to express the joy of "giving thanks"....having grace from on High on display...not grief from impatience and anger. I failed.
Thankfully, God was there in the midst. He still was able to get His message of grace and love and thanksgiving across to those who listened patiently, in spite of the messenger who had already demonstrated too much humanity for one day.
This morning in my devotional reading I was directed to Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, you know the verses..."To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven...", and the question was asked as to what spiritual season am I experiencing right now, and could I name it's challenges and gifts? Good question. I'd like to think I am in a more mature spiritual season of life, but then I go and have a day where I blow it and don't act very mature at all, and I realize that no matter in which season of life I may be living, I always need to lean on the Lord and allow my thoughts, words, and actions to be "seasoned" with His grace.
I was reminded of an old Gospel Hymn that you may remember and sing along with me:
"Make Me a Blessing"
1st Verse:
"Out in the highways and by-ways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad."
(Chorus)
"Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing,
Out of my life, May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing,
O Saviour, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today."
That is my prayer today. Lord, make ME a blessing to someone today. Help me to realize that sometimes others act and react they way they do to circumstances because they are "weary and sad". Rather than losing my patience and reacting in an immature way, help me to "Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife, making the sorrowing glad."....Yes, Lord, please, "out of my life, may Jesus shine." Amen.
"Make Me a Blessing", written by Ira B. Wilson, 1880-1950. Music: George S. Schuler, 1924.
Could not have been as bad as you feel it was, my friend. Besides you don't want people thinking you are a saint right?
ReplyDeleteNo worries about that happening! Ha!!! It was perhaps God's way of keeping me humble...or Satan's way of making me stumble...either way, I learned a valuable lesson. Don't allow circumstances to provoke me into losing control...and when and if it does, pick up the pieces, restore the damages and move on to better things. Don't let it keep me bound. Get up and get back to "work" at being a part of the blessing.
DeleteBeen there, done that---more times than I want to think about!! Sometimes you just have to "blow"!! lol God is always there to
ReplyDeletehelp us pick up the pieces--thankfully!
yes, Thankfully! He is always patient and kind and merciful...because He remembers my frame...He knows I'm still being "perfected" for heaven someday. All a part of the process. Love ya, Sis!
Deletecount it a blessing that you reconize what it was and as you said, learn from it and go on. None of us are prefect "yet" we all make mistakes, the Lord knows I do. Don't be hard on yourself, you're a precious child of a loving Father!
ReplyDeletethank you, Sylvia. Yes, it was a "learning experience" that I really didn't want on my 62nd birthday. But, it shows that God is still working on me...I'm not dead yet! He still has a lot of "perfecting" to do before He's ready to admit me into Heaven! LOL!!
DeleteWhen I am confronted with things that beset me I have learned to mentally speak with God, a sentence prayer and wait to see what happens next. Yes, I have times of being angry and sometimes I stumble or fall flat. But God is there for us when we get in these fixes.
ReplyDeleteBTW: Ann Voskamp is included in an article in Christianity Today,"50 Women You Should Know." It's about women who are'most shaping the church and culture." (October 2012 Issue)
My key verse at the bottom of my blog page is "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 I try to remember that verse when I am speaking or writing...but when provoked to anger and overtired I tend to speak first then wish I'd prayed before opening my mouth. Still working on that one.
DeleteI will have to look for that article in Christianity Today. I can certainly see why she would be included on that list. I finally finished the book last night. I'm glad I persevered to the end...it was worth it.