Saturday, April 13, 2013

It’s Settled, Oh Yeah!





It’s Settled, Oh Yeah!

Pens of Praise April 12, 2013

By Susan Marlene Kinney

 

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessings and favor] Who has called you to His {own} eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make your what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely and strengthen, and settle you.  

1Peter 5:10 Amplified Bible

 

It seems that I keep running into the truth that God accomplishes such a huge work inside and around us. Much of his provision is beyond our notice. What is He planning today? What does our future look like to Him? We can be sure that he loves us enough to swiggel his hand into our situations to stir us up.

Picture this with me, a glass filled with clear as Chrystal water, until we pour in a package of Kool-Aide and begin to stir. The water clouds up with an uneven dose of the powdery mixture. What then? More stirring. This kind of agitation is necessary to blend the mixture and water. Only in this way is the flavor balanced and water made smooth again so that they can taste as though they were one.

 

 

Aren’t we like that glass of water? First, we’re real happy to be still, not looking for or wishing to be disturbed. Here comes the spoon of our situation. Our agitation. The waves of disruption start with the pouring of our own personal Kool-Aide. The agitation, which we will symbolize as a spoon, dips into what was our smooth clear concentration, making our life muddy with confusion. Everything seems to swirl around and within us. Oh no! Everything or at least significant relationships and situations in our world are changing!

Until the agitation does its work we usually don’t see the purpose of disruption. Once our Kool-Aid make us better tasting and smelling we find that we like our new flavor and color. Oh, when we draw a smile from Him or we pour out comfort to someone we care about or even a stranger that’s when we realize it was all good to experience what we did. We didn’t enjoy the swirling confusion and annoyances or pain but somehow they matter in the big scheme of things. The swirling, agitating, disturbance and even the pain make a little sense. Sometimes. But even when we don’t understand, as in when the pain is too gripping and raw, but we stay faithful to Him there is an even greater reward. The Lord is pure, faithful and undefiled.

When He offers me my personal Kool-Aide, I may cringe; try to make my own waves to escape. But, deep inside I know He has my personal best and the blessings of many others in mind. Yeah, bring that Kool-Aide and spoon on over here Lord. I hope you stir gently, but I really do want to taste and smell better.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessings and favor] Who has called you to His {own} eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make your what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely and strengthen, and settle you.

I want that – how about you? 

 
 
Oh Zoey! I turn my back and look who wants to benefit from my Kool-Aide!
 

14 comments:

  1. my husband is a businessman and says the phrase, "who's drinking
    that koolaid?" this means somebody's spiking the punch with
    something we don't want any part of.

    i like your use of koolaid, though. if we yield trustingly to the
    Lord when HE adds his water that will never run dry, now THAT
    has some punch@

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    1. Hi Myletterstoemily! That is a great code comment your husband says so you can stay away from that spiked punch! Ha ha! Thank you so much. If we trust Him completely He will be faithful and everything will matter for the best! :)

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  2. What a great analogy. I'll never see my Kool-Aid in the same way again!

    It does remind me of summer though . . . wonder if we will ever have that again.

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    1. Hi Chris!! Thank you so for that comment...I might never see Kool-Aide the same way again either!! Ha ha! It was snowing here! Snowing!! Gurrrr!! I've been wondering the same thing. At least I'm all better from being sick with the spring/winter cold!! I bet up north you are even colder!!

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  3. I think I'll remember your post each time I drink a glass of Kool-aid. I don't like the stirrings, but I serve a God I can trust. Reminds me of Ron Hamilton's song, "O rejoice in the Lord, He makes not mistakes. He knoweth the end of each path that I take. And when I am tried and purified, I shall come forth as gold."

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    1. Oh Pamela!! Ha ha!! Thank you so much. I will have to look up Ron Hamilton's song. How encouraging those verses are! Thank you for sharing!

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  4. Yes we are like that glass of water...sitting still

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    1. Good to see you Kim!! Sometimes I need a bit of stirring up!

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  5. It's so true, the agitation is not what I want, and it's usually exactly what He knows I need. It's a good thing I don't choose, I'm sure I'd head away from it every time. The promises cover it all though, don't they, and in the turmoil, we are being shaped... I really enjoyed this tonight! :)

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    1. Hi Sonja! Yes God is the best promise keeper. We don't always see what He is up to. He has eternity in mind though not just the here and now.

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  6. Susan this is a good word and so true.
    Its so hard sometimes to see beyond the swirl, and we can feel like we're drowning in pain, but you are so right, God does not waste our trials.
    Thank you for this encouragement today..youare such a sweetheart!
    Love and warmest of hugs to oyu!

    All my heart,
    Deborah xoxo

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    1. Hi Deborah! Good to see you here! It is amazing how the Lord doesn't waste anything. For all who love Him he works all things to our good! Thank you much and your a sweetheart too!
      Mega blessings always!

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  7. This is an amazing, colorful way to look at pain! In the end it is for good, but the process...yikes.

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    1. I just visited your blogs Mrs. Saleslady371!! Wonderful posts! And about the process!! Double Yikes for sure. I'm reading more about trusting God. Why oh why do our minds get in the way of His greatness. He is where we can not be, does what we can not do and He knows the right decisions to make and when to make them. How great our God is!

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