~So...corn-on-the cob...well, we had a visiting pastor at church on Sunday who told the following story:As some of you know, this winter in Pittsburgh, Pa. we had a record amount of snowfall...as a matter of fact, in February is snowed for 23 consecutive days...after the starting amount of 23 inches in a 24 hour period....so lots and lots of shoveling, lots of slippery roads and lots of gray skyes. Well, our pastor Mark Altroggee was telling the story of he purposed years ago to look for anything good, anything to give thanks for, to Praise for in the midst of trials or hard times...so he said as he shoved his driveway for the 14th time in 2 days, he kept telling himself "this will make the corn really good this year!"...."this will raise the water table and give us the best corn on the cob we've had in years!"....see, his favorite food is (you guessed it) corn on the cob! I'm sure he was also thanking God that he was able to shovel, able to get out, grateful for heat and warm food....but he was looking past the present trying circumstances and looking to the harvest of blessings that he knew would come.
This hit home so much for me! Seems I was in a very weary place...weary of illness, fatigue, gray skys....and one of my favorite foods is corn-on-the cob as well! (it made me smile)
Years ago, when my older girls were little, we loved to watch the old "Pollyanna" movie...and play the "glad game"....looking for reasons to cultivate gratefulness, thankfulness and joy. I guess I've gotten away from that these past few years, but the Lord has graciously reminded me to 'count it all joy'...and to again....play the "glad game"! Here are some thoughts that stood out to me from the preaching:
~Christians should be the most CHEERFUL people on the face of the earth!
~We should try and consciously turn everything into a reason to praise and be thankful.
~Remember God's care and provision of us during our desert times...and remember His goodness during our times of abundance....everything good and perfect in our lives comes from Him...not our own efforts. Prosperity can cause us to forget His love and care.
~A quote from C.S. Lewis says this " You have no more right to be proud of your skills or accomplishments than of the color of your eyes!" Who we are and the gifts and skills we possess are given to us from God!
~He talked about the saying "proud as a peacock"....proudly strutting around showing off his beautiful feathers...but he didnt' do anything to make them so beautiful...he didn't paint them, arrange them and stick them in his back....
~Anna (my 5 year old) says...."well, God just made me this way, I guess"!
~Give up running our own lives, give up trying to be 'good enough'....remember, only God sustains us.
~We are to be abounding in thanksgiving at all times!
~Don't take God for granted...no grumbling or complaining!
~This world does not satisfy...(our possesions, jobs, homes) only God's living word, (daily manna for us) our relationship with Jesus satisfys our souls.
~God teaches us to depend on His word. Speak the psalms to ourselves....
~Deuteronomy 8:1-20....remember the lessons learned in the desert places....lessons to humble us, to draw us closer to Him, to cause us to depend on Him...to prove His faithfulness to us.
~Thru trials and trying times...trust God, thank Him, praise Him.
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For me, this sermon was HUGE! Such a refreshing time....almost felt like a washing the 'gunk' off...the bad attitudes, the wearyness was all washed away and I feel renewed again...I could have listened to him speak more of this for hours.
I've been smiling everytime I think of corn-on-the-cob lately...and know that this summer, when I am sick from the heat and humidity (I get so sick from heat/humidity)....that He will bring refreshing rains....and cozy snow storms this winter as well....I've learned so many lessons this year! I am realizing that times of testing, for me, are usually not short...but being able to remember what I've learned....being grateful for the times of refining, humbling, testing times...and learning to be thankful, grateful and praising Him in the storms of life....He is my all in all!
I just wanted to share this with all of you! If you would like to listen to this teaching, you can go to http://www.provchurch.org/messages/ and listen to May 23rd.
May you all have a blessed day....and give thanks in ALL circumstances! ~Sue~
