Facing Trials & Finding Blessings

I was getting ready for an early Christmas party and running late as I usually do, when I rembemered I needed a serving dish.

I began frantically searching for a dish for my dessert.

I gave my hutch full of Fiesta Ware and Hadley Pottery a quick glance, but decided it was all too precious to use and too much work to get down and wash.

I settled for an unbreakable, safe tray that was in my kitchen cabinet.

Just when I was about to dust the last brownie with powdered sugar, I saw my last year's Christmas gift to myself perched over on the top shelf.

It is a large turkey platter made with the handprints of our four children.

I transferred my brownies to the beautiful Thanksgiving platter adorned with the four little Monico turkeys, threw the other tray in my sink full of dirty dishes, and scurried out the door.

I asked myself a question in the middle of the decision process over what to carry the brownies on that seems to have turned into my theme for the 2008 holidays.

What use is my special tray if it sits on the shelf this holiday season?

Simply said, I need to use it!

My theme this year is not going to be snowmen or nutcrackers; it is going to be something like: "Use it or loose it!"

I plan on bringing out my colorful dishes, using my Mom's silver, and finding all of the cookie cutters in the bottom drawer when we cut out Santa's goodies.

What good is "stuff" on a shelf? What good is "stuff" stuffed away in a bottom drawer?

My mind began to explore this idea more over the weekend.

I can't help but wonder too if we leave more up on the top shelf of the closet or in the back corner of the attic than just old family games, Christmas decorations, and festive dishes.

All too often we have "issues" that we try to put away and forget.

There are feelings we hope can be forgotten if we just box them up and hide them.

Psalms 139 lets me know too that even if we trick ourselves into believing that things can be hidden, nothing can be concealed from God.

The psalmist David wrote these words. "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me."

What is in that buried box tucked away on that top shelf in your own life?

We all have had feelings of bitterness, resentment, disappointment, and even extreme grief that may need to be dealt with.

Why go another year without restoration and healing if the Lord is telling you the time is NOW?