Treasures in my Sack
A sigh of relief and a smile of pleasure mark today, the day after Ben's graduation party here. I will post some sweet pictures soon, but I wanted to write the special meditation God gave me the day before the big shabang. (You know, the day when, as hostess, you can be tempted to give in to all sorts of temptations.) What I love is that, as I'm reading through the Bible in a year, certain passages "just happen" to be apropos to my situation that day, not a nugget to tuck away for another.
Of course I put "just happen" in quotation marks, because I am utterly convinced that from eternity past God knew I would be at Genesis 43 on June 23 according to my own reading plan. What's more, He knew I'd be planning this big party which I could let sidetrack me from starting a really busy day without soaking in His Word first. I am so glad His grace drew me to my morning chat with Him rather than trying to catch Him on the fly all day long, in between upswings of anxiety, barking orders at my helping family, or comparing my weaknesses mentally with other women and wanting to throw in the proverbial towel of preparing for a big whoopdeedoo at my house. My house: the one with marker swirls still on the foyer walls, nonexistent kitchen curtains because I haven't made them or found ones I like at any store yet, and stains on the family room carpet despite our best efforts with a Rug Doctor.
So June 23 and Gen 43 went together like eggs and toast. Here's what the Lord showed me. Near the end of the account of Joseph's story...
v.19 "So [his brothers] went up to Joseph's steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 "Please, sir," they said, "we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don't know who put our silver in our sacks."
23 "It's all right," he said. "Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks...."
I wrote in my journal: "Father, thank You!!! for showing me this verse today. You have given me a meditation for peace on this day before the grad party when I'm feeling overwhelmed with work and slept so little last night. You, Father, tell me,"Peace,don't be afraid--Your Father has put treasure in your sack. " Help methink on all the treasures in my sack today:
1) your Spirit of love
2) forgiveness available when I sin
3) sunshine, grass, flowers
4) a big house for such parties and a lovely deck and view
5) money to buy food and decorations
6) very helpful family
7) friends coming (and bringing food)
8) laughter
9) memory and memories ( I remember one day I told Joel he had a good memory. He replied, "I have a lot of good memories!")
Guide me now, I pray.
Help me prioritize.
Refresh my weary head.
Multiply the time.
Remind me of my treasure sack.
----------
As I started listing things in my treasure sack just for that day, for thirty seconds, it quickly occurred to me that, unless I wanted to get other things done, I could be all day, next day, into eternity future, listing all the treasures God has put in my sack. Suddenly I was invigorated with joy and could hardly wait to share these treasures with friends and family at the party.
Of course I put "just happen" in quotation marks, because I am utterly convinced that from eternity past God knew I would be at Genesis 43 on June 23 according to my own reading plan. What's more, He knew I'd be planning this big party which I could let sidetrack me from starting a really busy day without soaking in His Word first. I am so glad His grace drew me to my morning chat with Him rather than trying to catch Him on the fly all day long, in between upswings of anxiety, barking orders at my helping family, or comparing my weaknesses mentally with other women and wanting to throw in the proverbial towel of preparing for a big whoopdeedoo at my house. My house: the one with marker swirls still on the foyer walls, nonexistent kitchen curtains because I haven't made them or found ones I like at any store yet, and stains on the family room carpet despite our best efforts with a Rug Doctor.
So June 23 and Gen 43 went together like eggs and toast. Here's what the Lord showed me. Near the end of the account of Joseph's story...
v.19 "So [his brothers] went up to Joseph's steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 "Please, sir," they said, "we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don't know who put our silver in our sacks."
23 "It's all right," he said. "Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks...."
I wrote in my journal: "Father, thank You!!! for showing me this verse today. You have given me a meditation for peace on this day before the grad party when I'm feeling overwhelmed with work and slept so little last night. You, Father, tell me,"Peace,don't be afraid--Your Father has put treasure in your sack. " Help methink on all the treasures in my sack today:
1) your Spirit of love
2) forgiveness available when I sin
3) sunshine, grass, flowers
4) a big house for such parties and a lovely deck and view
5) money to buy food and decorations
6) very helpful family
7) friends coming (and bringing food)
8) laughter
9) memory and memories ( I remember one day I told Joel he had a good memory. He replied, "I have a lot of good memories!")
Guide me now, I pray.
Help me prioritize.
Refresh my weary head.
Multiply the time.
Remind me of my treasure sack.
----------
As I started listing things in my treasure sack just for that day, for thirty seconds, it quickly occurred to me that, unless I wanted to get other things done, I could be all day, next day, into eternity future, listing all the treasures God has put in my sack. Suddenly I was invigorated with joy and could hardly wait to share these treasures with friends and family at the party.
posted by Zoanna at
12:41 PM
3 Comments:
Hey, hope the graduation party went great and you can look back on it fondly. By the way, how's the bathroom looking?
The party went really well even though the rain started at 4 and didn't stop. At all! I sure enjoyed my guests. Even got a chance to sit on the covered front porch and talk and pray with my nephew's girlfriend (an unbeliever) when she got a very troubling call around 8:30. I saw God's hand in the timing, as by that time everyone else was engrossed in games or conversation indoors and so I didn't feel compelled to be with them.
The bathroom? Funny you should ask. As of Sat. morning I still didn't have pictures hung and hadn't decided how I wanted them either. While I was out running an errand, Paul hung them up in a pleasing arrangement. He's got an eye for that sort of thing, though he'd never spread the word! He's my hero in many little ways!
Great reminder. If it makes you feel better my rug has stains on it. I have fabric for my kitchen curtains for over a year, but they still are not made. My bathroom has a paper grocery sack as a curtain...which keeps falling now, I have crayon swirls all over my hall walls. And Sharpie swirls all over my brand new custom kitchen cabinets. HEEE HEEE. So you are not alone.
And on the positive side
I own a house in Southern CA period.
I have a car that runs
Two beautiful kids
A wonderful handsome kind husband
flowers, air, and sunshine,
friends and loving family
and so many other blessings
I am sure so many others have walked this same road and felt these same things. You are not alone and what a great reminder that God gives us blessings everyday. We are blessed to be alive.
Hope the party went well.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home