With the shelves nearly stripped of food items, you would have thought there’d have been a raid on sale items at a grocery store. But this was no grocery market—these shelves lined one wall in our kitchen pantry. The only people who raided this pantry? Us. Not usually in a greedy way, unless searching for a snack led to impatience, or if I was late getting dinner ready and my family insisted they were "starving to death." This story took place years ago, before credit cards, computers, and cell phones, when moms often stayed at home to raise children. I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom, and we were lucky to qualify for a government subsidy program to obtain our first home. We were excited to have a place of our own, but we didn't realize how expensive it could be to maintain. My husband made decent wages, but when appliances broke, the A/C quit cooling, the roof needed repair, or we were faced with other expenses that came out of the blue, we struggled to make ends meet. During one particularly lean week, there wasn't much left in the pantry and we'd have to wait a couple of days until Richard got paid, to buy anything. I scanned the nearly empty shelves, searching for something to use for dinner. What can you do when these are the only items left on the shelves: One can of yams. One mostly used box of Cheerios. One opened package of elbow macaroni (which I had to throw out due to mealy bugs). One partial bag of stale tortilla chips, and one can of mushroom soup. That was it. We were out of eggs and bread, too. Payday couldn’t come soon enough! Feeling desperate, I prayed. “Lord, please help me find a way to make a meal." Tending to chores, I put a load of laundry into the washer and hoped God heard my prayer. I washed and dried dishes from lunch. Then, as I put the silverware away, I noticed the casserole cookbook my mother-in-law had given me. It was sitting on top of the telephone stand next to the counter. I picked up the cookbook, not expecting to find a recipe—but I found one with the following ingredients: yams and mushroom soup. I was stunned. I followed the recipe, mixing the yams with the mushroom soup, adding cheese, onion powder and spices, then baked per the directions. My husband was amazed I'd found a recipe for the ingredients we had in the pantry, and I told him about the prayer. The girls weren't crazy about the casserole, but they ate it. They were happy to indulge in the leftover cornbread I'd made the day before, slathering it with peanut butter. I’ll always remember the day God answered that prayer. There were other times we humbly asked God for help during those early years. Sometimes we had to wait for answers; other times not. Sometimes what he provided was not what we wanted, but what we needed. His provision was always something good, often better than what we would have chosen for ourselves. God provides. You can always count on the blessing of His abundance! # “Ask and you it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8 Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com
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Growing up in Virginia and Colorado, we were surrounded by the greenery of forests, meadows, and valleys. But being young, I didn’t pay much attention to details. Trees were trees. Flowers were flowers. Plants were plants. Like most kids, I was fascinated with other things: watching a bug crawl across the sidewalk, trying to catch a butterfly, or collecting “lightning” bugs in a jar on warm summer nights. My father planted a lot of vegetation in our yard; however, the only specific plants I remembered were the “Fitzers” (Juniper) that lined the front of our house and the wild Mint that grew next to our back door. I'd pick the Mint for my mother to use in iced tea. There was a Crabapple tree in the front yard of my best friend's house. Her mother made crabapple jelly. (If over-ripe fruit fell to the ground, we'd pelt them at each other). A massive Willow tree in a neighboring yard served as our climbing tree. In Sunday School, we learned a song called “Oh, Who Can Make a Flower?” It was an early introduction to thinking about the reality of the natural world. It was my aunt's favorite song. We'd sing along with her when she took my cousin, my brother and me in her VW bug. I think of her when I hear that song. She had a rough, troublesome life that caused a lot of heartache, but she held on to her faith. Perhaps you are familiar with the song? Here are the lyrics to the first verse: “Oh, who can make a flower? I’m sure I can’t, can you? Oh, who can make a flower? No one but God, ‘tis true.” The “Oh, who can make..." theme continues with verses about a rainbow, raindrops, sunshine, and a butterfly. It took me a long time to pay attention to the intricate details of the world of nature, but once I actually "saw" what was there, I was astounded by the beauty and complexity of God’s creation. I am intrigued by those who have the skill to farm or garden, and I watch with interest as my husband tends to plants (he is a Master Gardener). I am in awe of the botanical world and the thousands of varieties of plants, shrubs, trees, and flowers in existence. Equally inspiring is the way plants respond to being cared for, the way they communicate, and the benefits they provide for us. Today's technological advances are exponentially far-reaching, yet there is still much that science cannot explain. The song about the flower expresses the seemingly inexplicable question, "Who can make a flower?” And then, comes the answer that can only be attributed to the Creator: "I'm sure I can't, can you? Oh, who can make a flower? No one but God, 'tis true." # Song: "Oh, Who Can Make a Flower?" Public Domain. Grace W. Owens, Clara Lee Parker, 1926. Photo: N. Johnson Have you ever looked at something without really seeing it? (If you're nodding yes, me too). I admit I've done it many times. For example, yesterday, with my morning coffee in hand, I stepped onto the patio to join my husband at the picnic table. I hadn’t noticed that he’d moved the patio umbrella and rearranged some of the furniture on the patio. (I thought I was awake, but as I looked, I only saw what my mind believed rather than seeing what was there). One time, someone asked me about the decor of the building where I'd worked for years. I'd seen the same rooms and the same hallways every day, and do you think I could remember the details of the wallpaper, the color of each of the rooms, the wall decor, or the tiles? There were a number of details I'd missed. The same goes for noticing other details: the name of the clerk at the checkout counter, or remembering what a friend was wearing when we met for lunch earlier? Or, how often do we get in our car, travel the same route, and not see what is around us? A few days ago, my husband and I traveled to the mountains on a road we'd taken many times. However, due to active construction, the traffic traveling in our direction was stopped for 20 minutes. I joked that we were taking the “scenic” route, but that was precisely what had taken place. With the cool temperature in the low 70s, we rolled down our windows as we waited. But instead of merely “looking” at the forest surrounding us on both sides of the road as we usually did while driving, we had an up-close view of things we didn’t usually notice. Pinecones of all sizes were scattered across the forest floor. We marveled at the way the pine needles on the Ponderosa Pines were sectioned and the way the needles slanted in the same direction. Some branches were grayish-black in color; others were fully needled and sprinkled in greenery. A Blue Jay swooped down onto a branch, cackling, it's dark blue feathers two-toned. A striped chipmunk scampered to the top of a fence post, nibbling on a nut or some other lucky food find. A swift, cool breeze swept through our car windows as pines swayed, the scent of fresh pine filling our nostrils. Between the treetops, variegated rays of sunlight danced upon the forest floor, and illuminating the bright greenery of the moss on the logs and rocks. In contrast, the bright colors were well-defined by dark shades of grayish-chestnut of the bark of the pine trees. We closed our eyes, invigorated by the fresh mountain air. We were still stuck in place in traffic; however, by taking notice of our senses, we took in so much more than usual. When the traffic delay ended, we almost wished it would have lasted longer to bask in those moments of peaceful relaxation. Within minutes, we were back on the road, traveling the speed limit through the forest-lined highway. The 20-minute delay felt like a hidden blessing. If we hadn’t had to stop for construction, we would have missed the up-close, scenic rest time. A delay could have been inconvenient for someone in a hurry to arrive at their destination. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case for us, and the stop proved to be a mini detour that brought us moments of wonder, relaxation, and joy. The next time you are faced with a delay, hopefully it won't be when you are in a big hurry. Instead, I hope that it will offer you time to reflect on the hidden blessings that surround you—the things that often go unnoticed in the busyness of life. ------------------ "God looked at all he had made, and he found it very good." - Genesis 1:31 Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com "Uh-oh!" I turned the key in the ignition, but the Jeep wouldn't start. Dead battery! I grumbled. Such timing. I'd miss an appointment. By the end of the day, that wasn't the only "Uh-oh." I put leftovers in the microwave and pressed "Start," but nothing happened. Great. Broken microwave. To top that off, the following day the dryer quit: the drum was spinning, but there was no heat. I dragged the heavy basket of wet clothing to the garage, and found a way to create a makeshift clothesline. All the "Uh Oh's" were broken things. At least they can be fixed, I thought. Despite grumbling, I had answers for dealing with these inconveniences. But what happens when the "Uh-ohs" are not just things that are broken, but instead are part of the ourselves that feel broken? Throughout our lives, we experience losses, both big and small. Some things break us down or cause us to feel sad, vulnerable, or alone. Like a dead battery, there is no good time to feel broken. But there is a way to look at our circumstances in a different light. For example, take the word, "Uh-oh." Now let's take it apart. The "Uh" is the part of the phrase where we realize something has changed, is out-of-place, or different than it was. The "Oh!" is when we discover the answer or a way to fix the problem—it is the remedy. The question of "What shall we do?" has been a common denominator for God's people throughout the ages. The remedy for personal brokenness is not easy or simple; however, answers can be found—through the eyes of faith and the assurance of God's promises. A few verses follow as examples for comfort and help: "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings." - Hebrews 10:22 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." - John 5:24 "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 Whenever you have an "Uh-oh" moment, whether big or small, may you smoothly ride the waters of uncertainty and find the "Oh!"—the answer, the remedy for which you are searching. (And may the inconvenience of a dead car battery or broken appliance feel like a mere small setback in the big scheme of things!) Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com Did you ever feel you were supposed to slow down, but didn’t? Are you nodding, yes? (Me, too). I understand. When I was eight, I got a new red bicycle for my birthday. It had solid rubber tires. (Dad wouldn't have to worry about fixing my flats anymore). Excited to ride my new bike to school the following day, I hopped on and sped off. “You’d better slow down!” Mom yelled. I heard her, but I didn’t pay attention. Pedaling with all my might, I neared the end of the street, my attention diverted by a cat crossing the road. Suddenly, Slam! Crash! Bang! I’d hit the back bumper of a parked car with the solid rubber tires of my bike. The car bumper was more robust than the bike—or me. My ribs hurt badly, and I'd knocked the wind out of myself, but I didn't think anything was broken, except, perhaps, for my pride. No one saw the incident. Embarrassed, I never told my parents. (My mother would have reminded me I hadn’t listened, but she was right). Kids don’t always listen, and sometimes adults don’t listen, either. Lately, I was one of those adults. For the past few months, my calendar had been filled to overflowing. I'd intended to delve more deeply into my NIV Study Bible. But every evening when I’d planned to read, life got in the way. By the end of the day, I was too tired to read at bedtime, and my Bible sat untouched on the nightstand. Often I try to do too much as was the case this time. I got sick. Then, my daily routine stopped as quick as Slam, Crash, Bang and the bicycle mishap. Not feeling well, I couldn't partake in my usual daily activities. I had no choice but to slow down. I got tired of having to lie in bed or curl up on the couch. But, ironically, there was one good thing that happened. I had a lot of time to rest, reflect—and read. So I reached for my study Bible. I'm sure God didn’t intend for me to feel unwell. However, I thought about my perception of busyness. Was I using my time as wisely as I thought? Or not? Maybe I could slip in the Bible study on a regular basis if I changed my priorities? When we reflect on our lives and think things through, sometimes we can come up with different ways to handle the questions that come up in our lives. And, through faith and prayer, we can find a way to accomplish the things we desire to do. After I started feeling better, I knew I would have to focus on my new priority. Being sick wasn’t fun, but it forced me to slow down—and take notice of a lot of things. What things have occurred in your life to help you slow down or rest? # "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30 Photo courtesy of Vecteezy.com |
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