Making some space

 

We were deep cleaning our kitchen cupboards and drawers, throwing away outdated and never-used stuff. 

My husband was going through one of the drawers and I heard "thump" as he tossed something significant into the wastebasket.

"What was that?" I cried out in response to the sound of an old mixer manual hitting the bottom of the wastebasket.

"Oh, it just belonged to that old mixer," my husband innocently replied, as I shrieked. Unbeknownst to him, it contained the recipe I have been using to make bread. What a close call!

I know, I know, how would he know? In his defense, together we had been tossing outdated manuals and such all morning. But in my defense, just so you know, I never overreact in situations like this.

I have falling apart recipe books from my mom. I have clipped recipes that I might use someday. Like I told my husband, it's a good thing I can save new recipes online now, on my phone, or that drawer would look A LOT worse.

Although not evidenced by the above, I am actually a very organized person when it comes to most things. In fact, I can proudly find a needed recipe very quickly in my special drawer.

I suppose everyone has a space--sometimes its in our brain--where we store both useful and not-so-useful stuff. The problem, of course, is that sometimes it can be difficult to quickly find a needed fact, name, or word-- if it can be found at all--when it comes to brain space.

I expect some of you will know what I'm talking about. 

Anyway, if your life resembles my recipe drawer, it may be time to come clean. Spend some time in prayer, making space for God to help you see through the messiness of life and determine what's important, and what's not.

Begin by praising him. Continue by thanking him. And finally, put your needs before him and sit in silence and listen.

Janet Cassidy

Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
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Are you feeling "good as dead?"

 

I was inspired while listening to the account of Abraham and Sarah having a child in their later years (Hebrews 11):

"So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore."

It struck me that, metaphorically, we, too, are sometimes nearly dead. Maybe for us we need life support for our motivation, our hope, or even our spiritual life.

The truth is, like he did for Abraham, God can bring us back from the brink as well.

Abraham was old. Sarah was sterile. Yet--and this is key--God worked through them, to bring about life. For them, it was to give them descendants, but for us he can bring us to life in other ways.

If it seems to you that all is lost, or that life has (or is) passing you by, hold on to this proof that God is walking beside you and that he will never give up on you.

If grief is zapping your will, or sickness and pain is leaving you listless, do not despair. If you are disappointed or frustrated that things have changed too much--or not enough--remember, the very same God who was present for Abraham remains present for you today, right now.

"Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen."

God never abandons his children. He has not abandoned us.

Have faith.

Janet Cassidy

Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

 

 

 

Have you said enough?

 

 

Paul was addressing some of the challenges of the people in Corinth. In some ways, they were not unlike challenges you may be having in your own family or friends' circle.

Is someone stirring up drama, leading someone astray, or causing division?

Is your adult child disappointing you by the decisions they are making?

Is your friend ignoring you because they are self-absorbed?

Paul gives one of the great, all-time expressions of what we can do for someone who is failing in some way.

"You should forgive and encourage him . . . or else the person may be overwhelmed by excessive pain. Therefore, I urge you to reaffirm your love for him." (2 Corinthians 2:6)

We may be tempted to "punish" the offender beyond what is necessary, and Paul challenges us to look outward and have concern for "the other." 

In the case of the Corinthians, Paul determined that the action taken by the Corinthians, i.e. "the punishment" to address the situation, was enough, and care should be taken not to inflict more pain. 

In other words, enough is enough. We need to know when we have said or done enough, lest our words or behavior become excessive punishment.

In our case, healthy relationships allow room for individual growth, and since that growth sometimes comes in fits and starts, it can be very frustrating to the observer.

Let us heed Paul's words and look for ways to lift others up and reaffirm our love for them, being careful not to continually rebuke them once we have said our piece.

Janet Cassidy

Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy