Last week, my coworker, Julie, decided to bless the staff on our unit with a hot waffle breakfast, to thank them for all that they do for our patients. I wanted to contribute, too, so I decided to make blueberry syrup to go with the waffles.
The next morning, I got up early and began to make the syrup. I washed the frozen berries that I had saved from last summer. They were so plump and juicy! I knew they would be perfect. I added sugar and cooked them up, making the most delicious, thick, sweet syrup ever! I quickly put the syrup in the container, making sure the lid was tight, and carried it out to my car. I couldn’t wait to share with everyone!
By the time I got to work, however, I found an enormous, sticky mess leaking out of the hatch of my car. The syrup had tipped over and somehow knocked the lid off the container, spilling about a gallon of thick, blue, sticky goo all over the inside of my car! I just couldn’t imagine how I would ever get the mess out. Blueberries make a great dye, so I was sure that my grey carpet would be purple forever.
I had to work all day. I thought about taking the car to the carwash next door to vacuum out the berries, but that still wouldn’t get the sticky syrup out of the carpet, and the stain would still be there. I would need a better plan.
When I got home, I got all of my cleaning supplies together and went to work. I scooped and scrubbed and dabbed and brushed, and then did it all again and again. It took me almost three hours, but with lots of detergent and elbow grease, I was able to get the carpet clean. (The rubber around my hatch still sticks, though I have cleaned it twice more).
This made me think. I have made a sticky, gooey mess of my life so many times. I have great big blueberry sin stains on my heart and soul, but Jesus has just the right “detergent” to get me really clean. The Bible says, “Though your sins are like scarlet (or blueberries?), they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18, NIV). And: “These are they that have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14, NIV).
I praise God that He is able to cleanse even the messiest sin from my life, leaving no stain behind! Jesus is the best stain-lifter ever!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Family blessings
My daughter has been in the military for several months now. I have worried a lot about her since she left. I have especially worried about her spiritual life. She is in a special program and must spend many hours a day studying. She also has interactions with people from all walks of life, and I have worried about how she might handle new situations and new ideas. I pray for her a lot, and I have to remind myself that God is watching over her now, and my time to influence her is largely over.
I am pleased to say that I now know that I don't have to worry. My daughter has always shown great interest in spiritual things and has always demonstrated great faith in God. This week, she faced a great challenge, and things worked out in an amazing way:
She has been attending worship services on base weekly and has been highly involved with her new "church". Then, a few weeks ago, she finally got the opportunity to attend a church out in the community. She was immediately impressed that she needed to be involved in the ministry in this church. She was asked to participate in the worship service this past weekend (though I don't know exactly what part she took).
After she accepted the offer, things began to happen. First of all, she lost her ID card. This meant that she could not eat in the mess hall, among other limitations. Also, someone got ahold of her bank Debit card, and drained her account, so she had no money to go off base for her meals. She also broke her wrist. She was tired and hungry. She "had a very bad week."
She couldn't help thinking that somehow these "challenges" had some connection with her feeling that she needed to participate somehow in ministry. She asked her chaplain about it, and she prayed. A lot. She knew God was trying to tell her something.
When it was time for her part in the church service this week, she was given a message by her chaplain, which she was to present to her church. But she decided to give a message of her own. Everyone in the congregation told her afterward what a blessing they had received. Then the chaplain approached her. Would he be upset that she chose her own material, instead of the message he prepared for her?
He also told her what a blessing she had been. He saw that she had a gift. He could see that she was meant to be there. He told her that her message was exactly what that church had needed, and that God must have given it to her. Then he offered her an amazing opportunity: to serve in the ministry as a lay leader! He will oversee all of the paperwork and schedule the hours that she needs, so that she can essentially be an assistant chaplain. And this comes at a time that the current position is coming open!
And as for her "challenges"? She was able to get her credit protection program to work with her bank and her money in her account was restored, and she found her ID card. "Now I can eat!"
What an amazing God!
I am pleased to say that I now know that I don't have to worry. My daughter has always shown great interest in spiritual things and has always demonstrated great faith in God. This week, she faced a great challenge, and things worked out in an amazing way:
She has been attending worship services on base weekly and has been highly involved with her new "church". Then, a few weeks ago, she finally got the opportunity to attend a church out in the community. She was immediately impressed that she needed to be involved in the ministry in this church. She was asked to participate in the worship service this past weekend (though I don't know exactly what part she took).
After she accepted the offer, things began to happen. First of all, she lost her ID card. This meant that she could not eat in the mess hall, among other limitations. Also, someone got ahold of her bank Debit card, and drained her account, so she had no money to go off base for her meals. She also broke her wrist. She was tired and hungry. She "had a very bad week."
She couldn't help thinking that somehow these "challenges" had some connection with her feeling that she needed to participate somehow in ministry. She asked her chaplain about it, and she prayed. A lot. She knew God was trying to tell her something.
When it was time for her part in the church service this week, she was given a message by her chaplain, which she was to present to her church. But she decided to give a message of her own. Everyone in the congregation told her afterward what a blessing they had received. Then the chaplain approached her. Would he be upset that she chose her own material, instead of the message he prepared for her?
He also told her what a blessing she had been. He saw that she had a gift. He could see that she was meant to be there. He told her that her message was exactly what that church had needed, and that God must have given it to her. Then he offered her an amazing opportunity: to serve in the ministry as a lay leader! He will oversee all of the paperwork and schedule the hours that she needs, so that she can essentially be an assistant chaplain. And this comes at a time that the current position is coming open!
And as for her "challenges"? She was able to get her credit protection program to work with her bank and her money in her account was restored, and she found her ID card. "Now I can eat!"
What an amazing God!
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