Praise for the Plenty
Today, I sit here with a mini-crisis going on in my family. It took this crisis and several urgings to write this post. I so often drag my feet. Finally, my fearless editor, Jen, posted a reminder. My intent this morning was to send her a Facebook message and say, “Hey, I got nothing this month.”
But then this morning, coffee in hand, armed to do the deed, I opened my Facebook page and there was a little something to jog my memory from 2014.
To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. ~Matthew 25:29 {NLT}
Drip. Drip. Drip. And the tears rolled.
My house has become a storehouse for a couple of non-profit organizations that are near to my heart. One in particular is-Days for Girls International. People keep sending me donations. I, yes, I have had the audacity to say to God, “Could you please, stop. I really need to get caught up.”
God has chastised me for this. Several times over the past weeks I have uttered to friends and people around me, in a joking manner, of course, that God keeps sending me stuff and He needs to stop so I can get caught up. Last Saturday night, I felt God move in my heart that speaking those words was a sin, and yet I repeated it again to someone else. Sometimes I’m a stiff-necked sort of person and it takes a bigger thing to get through, possibly a mini-crisis. If only I would listen and repent. If God wants to send me an abundance for his people, much like Joseph preparing for the famine, who am I to question it.
Who am I to question what God has provided?
There are many other areas where God has blessed my family and myself. Not only has He provided plenty, He has given an abundance. Right this very moment an abundance of tears.
Here’s the struggle. My selfish desires want something else. I am struggling and looking for the perfect life, the perfect family, the perfect home. If I just have the picture-perfect clean, neatly organized, Pinterest, Better Homes and Gardens, Chip and Joanna Magnolia farm house, my life would be perfect. God could care less if my house ever graces a magazine cover or TV show. I need to stop being ashamed that my house has an abundance of boxes for other people and praise God for the abundance He has given me to share.
God has given me a storehouse, better yet a silo!
More than just a little praise is warranted. So, today I will ask for forgiveness. I’ll ask myself, “What do I have an abundance of and how does God want me to use it?” I will praise Him for the plenty and He, God of the Universe, Yahweh, Abba will give me grace and such.
And plenty of it!
- The Missing Point in Disappointment - September 25, 2019
- You’re Invited - June 19, 2019
- Gloom, Despair & Agony on Me - April 10, 2019
Laura thank you!! It’s so easy to become consumed with the “thing” we think we lack and forget about the perspective of abundance… hugs and thank you!
This could not be better timed. I too went to the Lord today with my sin, which sounded more like “I like things MY way. I’m not quick to forgive, after all these years.” AND, I keep forgetting to ask the Holy Spirit into the present situations. But as you pointed out, He patiently prompts us.
I found your essay a strong encouragement to my heart today, and I want to wish you an extra dose of His presence this Thanksgiving, and I covet your prayers for progress in the areas in which I struggle.
Blessings!
Thanks, Laura. What an encouragement for thankfulness, but even more so, for forgiveness when our human heart is blinded to the obvious. Good one to remember for me.