A few weeks ago, as I was opening up our Women's Ministry meeting, the Lord laid on my heart to have the women give their favorite Bible verse and to exlain why it was their favorite. This was an ice breaker exercise, but it quickly became a testimony service of sorts. The women had to reflect on the Word, locate the exact place in the Bible and write it down on an index card. I gave them one minute to introduce themselves to one person and give their explanation. After that minute, we introduced ourselves to another sister and so on until we had met everyone in the room. It was interesting to hear and watch the women become bolder in their declarations as they traveled from sister to sister. Oftentimes we quote scripture because we've heard a preacher say it before and we've just taken bits and pieces of it to fit our lives. But what happens when we actually hide the scripture in our heart?
This question takes me back to my grandparent's kitchen table and my own Bible verse. As a young girl, my scripture before the meal was Psalms 34:1, "I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth". It wasn't until that women's ice breaker that I realized that I had actually become that very scripture. As I relayed the story to Stephanie (the 1st sister to whom I recited my scripture) about my grandfather, my heart became full because I had actualized the scripture in my life. What began at the kitchen table, carried me throughout high school; traveled to college and medical school with me; walked down the aisle alongside of me; was in the delivery room with both of my sons; kept me from the brink of divorce; sat on my shoulders as I cried over bills that I couldn't pay; rejoiced with me as I experienced great triumphs in my life; comforted me as I stood by my mother's bedside; guided me as I walked off the job; sat in the waiting room when Courtland underwent surgery at 4 1/2 weeks old and again when Chandler had ACL surgical repair this past December. This scripture rises early with me as I do morning devotion and many times dries my tears at the end of the night. "I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES, HIS PRAISE SHALL CONTINUALLY BE IN MY MOUTH". That is my scripture and it is me!!!
As I recounted the brief story to the sister, I realized how God gives me grace daily to see His glory in most situations. Although many of the things aforementioned, have brought great fear and trepidation, God enables me to keep a level head and continue to bless Him in the midst of it. So even in my tragic stories, I am able to see God's blessing hidden just beneath the surface. I understand and do not take it for granted! It's definitely a gift and a blessing from God and it all began as a little girl. I didn't know that I was speaking into and over my life as I teenager at my grandparents dinner table, when all I really wanted was the meatloaf and mashed potatoes. At a young age, God was giving me the perfect recipe to make my own gravy. At times the gravy was a little lumpy, so He showed me how to "bless him at all times" by using a wire whisk to break up the clumps. At times, God has had to put me through a strainer so I could get the lumps out of the gravy as I continued to praise Him. At other times, God said the only way that I could smooth out this gravy was by shaking things up a little, so He mixed me in the blender. I'm good gravy now! I've been tested and tried in the fire and I'm still able to praise Him.
This past weekend, I witnessed the actualization of scripture yet again. But this time it was not for me...it was for my elder son. This past weekend as we celebrated my In-laws 50th wedding anniversary, Chandler was given the opportunity to play a FREE round of golf on a $30,000 membership golf course. The next day, when he began to thank the individual and express just how much he loved the course and enjoyed playing the previous day, he was given another FREE round. Are you kidding me? This 16-year old boy was afforded two opportunities to do what he loves to do for FREE that so many adults would just die trying to achieve this. It isn't luck! It isn't the fact that he has such a gleaming smile and booming personality, although he is cute (just like his Momma........I'm just sayin'). It isn't the fact that his grandfather is such a great man and makes friends wherever he goes, although this too is true. Chandler was given this amazing opportunity, because of a scripture that I began praying over both of my sons this past year. Luke 2:52 talks about the growth of Jesus after his parents lost him and then found him again in the temple. Jesus was with the elders listening and asking questions as a young boy. He was curious and people were astonished that this young man understood so much at his young age. Rather than just take that scripture and say 'good for Jesus', that's a nice story, I began inserting the names of my boys in that same scripture.
So it reads like this, "And (Chandler and Courtland) increased in wisdom and stature, and in FAVOR with God and Men". The Holy Spirit brought this scripture to the forefront of my mind, as I laid in bed early this morning. God revealed to me that He was blessing Chandler because I chose to stand on the Word and pray it over the boys. This scripture has become the gravy to Chandler's mashed potatoes. I am eternally grateful! Courtland better hold on, because he's walking in favor too.
Why do I tell this story? Because now it's time for me to instruct my sons, so they will make their own gravy. Our home will now adopt quoting a scripture before every meal. I will go through scripture with them individually to help find one that they'd like to share at family meals. It may change over the years as they get older and experience God differently, but for now I just want to lay a solid foundation.
So here's my interpretation of Proverbs 22:6.................feel free to use it accordingly.
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old; he will make his own gravy".
Now walk it out.....
No comments:
Post a Comment