My little basket in outstretched hands

Yesterday Sim (my husband) called late in the day and said, your teaching youth group tonight. I frantically started thinking, OK, on what? I didn't have a plan, book to follow, rip out pages to copy, or even a idea floating in my head somewhere... Actually the more I tried to "think" of something, the more I couldn't concentrate! I went to the web. I looked up Praise- looked up Peace... Printed all relating scripture. The Praise=Peace has really grabbed me this past week so I breathed a sigh of relief and thought.... "Ok, teach on that"
The rest of the work day was spent looking forward to my 45 minute drive home. I have come to love those blessed 45 minutes every morning and every evening... I jump in the van and instantly pop in the current book on tape or CD. My mind focuses on the words, the scriptures, and work fades away. I wasn't even on number 2 on my 3rd CD of the series I am listening to, when the Holy Spirit quickened inside of me and had to shout and agree with a "yes Lord", I scrambled mentally to remember how the reader said it, turned back the nob to repeat the section 2 again, and dug for a scrap paper. Upside down, running off the edge of the paper, and vigorously shaking the pen every so often I scratched out what God was showing me.....
John 6:1-14--- how many times have I heard the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish story? Sure it amazed me everytime I heard it, how Christ fed so many...... But I never saw the "before the miracle." Verse 5 Jesus asks "where shall we buy?" 6 clarifies for us that He KNEW before asking what He was going to do. 7 of course they grumble questioning how THEY will be able to get enough to do such a big thing. And 9~~ (here is what had me hooting and thanking the Lord) We are introduced to who God planned (back in 6 when He knew the whole time) to use..... A boy. A boy with his little basket. ~~ Me being the visual person I am .... I saw the mass crowd of 5,000 men more women and children scattered throughout the country side, all following the teacher, the prophet they had heard about. All hungry, tired, lonely, hopeful and seeking. Yet the disciples knew of this boys basket? I picture this boy earlier wondering why he felt compelled to pack 5 small barley loaves and 2 small dried fish before leaving to go see this prophet he had heard about. I see this boy pushing through the crowd, and his dirty little arm reached out clutching the basket of meager food.... Offering it to be used. I am sure the people in the crowd close to him probably laughed at his offering... Maybe even the disciples.... Because they still were thinking "how can we afford this? Even if we had 8 months of pay worth of bread, it wouldn't even give everyone a bite!" in verse 7. But one disciple .... Andrew pulled this boy and his basket to the Master in vs 9. Bringing it to Jesus attention of course adding his 2cents of doubt at the end...........Taking the basket from the hand of a little boy. I see Christ smiling at the embarrassed apologetic boy who might have mumbled "sorry I don't have more to offer Lord"... But Christ just told his doubting disciples "have everyone sit"vs 10 and in vs 11 He then took the offering Gave THANKS to God(Praise) for what God was gonna do... And then distributed it.... Not just a bite but as much as they wanted!
We all know that there was 12 baskets left over..... From this one small offering that I am sure the boy didn't think was worthy nor of any use in the big scheme of things.....
I asked my teens..... Like I am asking you... What is in your basket..... What offering, gift do you have that you can give in the big scheme of things? Do you even want to give what you got away? How many have the gift of worship, prayer, our creativeness, talent, job specialty, education in certain areas? Does it matter how small our loaves are?
To me its all in the offering...
"God, all I have is the gift of gab, the love burning in my heart for those who are struggling, lonely, lost and without hope.... If you can use this meager gift, my little basket... Then its all yours. I have learned through your teaching of the Holy Spirit and in Word that it all begins, the miracle begins only after Praise, thanks and offering. I praise you Jesus, I will Extol the Lord at all times His praise will always be on my lips!"

Settling Down

Breathe........... In and ........Out
Ok, I survived the hoopla of the shopping,eating, late nights, and more eating. There were a lot of things that I noticed this Christmas that made me really look at what it's suppose to be about... I got to watch and listen to people this year. I too was busy, doing last minute shopping, trying to prepare meals on a time limit, juggling family gatherings, but this year was different. I felt peace. Not so much in what was going on around me, but what was going on IN me. I watched kids focused on the presents, watched parents worry about who got more, heard tale tale talk about "well I always spend..........Much more than I am this year... " Almost as if its not the blessing, but the pricing that is important. I heard sadness in voices of those who could not see loved ones this year... Either due to death or just distance. I saw attitudes flare, and heard mean words in the mist of what was a little stress. I really got to spiritually sit at a distance and really SEE this year. I think of the scripture in Matt 12:33-37 out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speak..... Then goes on to talk about every idle word and judgment. I was amazed and disappointed in some of the stuff I learned about others whom I love, and myself. I heard degrading and complaining comments from spouses to other family members as that spouse of target sat at the table. I watched the emotions play over their face, first embarrassment, anger, biting back retribution, then acceptance and hardness. I wanted to jump up and say, "Ye without sin cast ye the first stone!" Wanna air dirty laundry? But I didn't, I got up and walked away, trying to block out the talk and pray for the targets. My heart went thru all the emotions of all the other targets... But I just continued to pray. God has really become a personal "friend" here in the past year... I talk to Him about everything.... Not just the old "hey, I need this, want this, or give me this" But "Hey, I sure am glad I got you. You never leave me or forsake me, you never talk to me like I am less, I can ALWAYS count on you to be a comforter, a refuge, my savior." I have found a secret....... A secret of Praise. I firmly believe this peace I have been praying for...... Is equal to Praise. I praise Him when things are great, when they are so-so, and when they stink..... He is always worthy of PRAISE!! Just like the blessed distance He gave me this year..... I could PRAISE Him the whole time!! This was my best Christmas ever.
God is soo good!!
PRAISE=PEACE!!

Beginnings!

This is exciting! God has really taken the breaks off in my life!! When He has plans He doesn't mess around... So unlike me, I hate to admit. I tend to over analyze. If my mom or husband heard me say that their mouths would fall open and gasps would be heard. But its true... Me the jump in both feet..... Sometimes over analyze things.... Or at least the things God tells me I am going to do.
"Ok, your gonna do this, teach this, go here, and reach these women" (paraphrasing of course) The woman in me who still holds that inner fear of freezing on stage like I did in the 9th grade talent show, comes back to life making me nod my head 'no' when God shows me on a stage and a vast number of women's faces all staring at me. But wanting HIS will out weighs my lack of confidence, and I pretty much feel that if He wants to use a frozen, knee knocking gal to spread His hope, then who am I to argue. (another thing my husband would raise a eyebrow at... Me not arguing!) Thankfully, I have grown spiritually in trusting in Him and better taste of music since then. The dreadful memory of standing before my high school, dressed in neon colors with orange painted teased hair, and singing Cindi Loper ~ Time after Time still amuses my family who lovingly laugh at me when mom brings the pictures out.
So this blog.......... Is another piece in the Fathers puzzle... I cant wait to see what picture He is forming with this!! The phrase from some action movie I had once seen comes to mind..... "Its not a job, its an adventure" Me, I have always loved a good adventure!! With Christ as my body guard I am ready to roll!