Sane, Simple, Sacred: Pressed and Perplexed

Pressed and Perplexed

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair...(2 Corinthians 4:8)

Pressed and Perplexed. More than usual this week. Early this morning I posted this on facebook:

Determined (by God's grace) to live by faith and not by sight today. (2 Corinthians 5:7). I have knowledge of him in whom I have faith, and I am certain that he is able to keep that which I have given into his care till that day. (2 Timothy 1:12)

I had no idea God would give us a glimpse of His goodness so soon. First, while reading our two devotional books this morning, God in His great goodness coordinated the readings to match our pressure and perplexity. Both of them were astonishingly fitting! We were overwhelmed. Minutes later, I went to the post office. The window wasn't open, but I said "hello" to the postmistress who was filling mailboxes behind the closed door. She opened the door and handed me a package. (She didn't have to do that!) At home, I opened the package. Included were the note (above)...

..the clothespin bag (just the one I'd wanted and all that I thought I was getting), and ABOVE AND BEYOND what I'd "won" in Raeann's giveaway--there was a jar of detergent and clothespins! The timing of this is NOT coincidental. God knew I needed a faith-booster. The timing and generosity of a friend are such tangible evidences of God's love, compassion, and great faithfulness.

I continue to trust in Him for the pressures and perplexities that we are experiencing. I KNOW whom I have believed.

This weekend my husband will be preaching on Lamentations 3:22-24. These verses say:

22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

The Lord IS my portion! I WILL wait for Him!

12 comments:

BrendaFebruary 17, 2011 at 8:37 AM
It seems you are going through a very hard time. I am sorry. I prayed for you this morning.
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RebeccaFebruary 17, 2011 at 8:54 AM
Thanks, Brenda. This, too, shall pass.
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Jacquelyn StagerFebruary 17, 2011 at 9:30 AM
The added gifts are so thoughtful! What a nice surprise!

He is our portion, our strength, our shield and our great reward!

Praying for you my friend!
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Janettessage.blogspot.comFebruary 17, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Awesome and Amen...how precious His provisions and encouragement that comes in such creative ways...that is if we acknowledge them...I am sure we miss a lot of encouragement He sends...or should I say I do?
He is our portion!
Blessings this week as you see His portion poured out on you both.
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Lady FarmerFebruary 17, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Rebecca~
I am so happy to have been a part of God's gentle encouragement to you! He put wings on that post ~ I didn't get it sent out until late Tuesday! That you should recieve it already is proof of His working all things together for good to them that love the Lord!
Praying for you today ~ He is faithful!
Be Blessed, my friend!
Raeann
p.s. More proof ~ I am able to comment here today ~ internet is cooperating for a change!
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DianaFebruary 17, 2011 at 1:12 PM
Try whistling while you work, it works for me.
Work I mean. Well and whistling. Whatever your troubles may be, throwing yourself into a project will make you feel good and take your mind off of the troubles!
Such a NEAT, get it? NEAT give-away! There's laundry to be done and closets to be cleaned so get busy, you know, idle hands and all!
Love Di ♥
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Heather's Blog-o-ramaFebruary 17, 2011 at 5:39 PM
Dear Rebecca,
I'll keep you in my prayers. you are such a lovely lady and an encouragement to me :) :) Oh, that giveaway you won is lovely...and it's really neat when God surprises us with those extra goodies :) :) :) I love it when God does stuff like that for us :) :) Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather :)
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PamelaFebruary 17, 2011 at 6:30 PM
I'm so thankful for your blessings that I'm putting it on my thankful list for today. "Summer and WINTER, and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above. Join with all nature in manifold witness, to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love."
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GlendaFebruary 17, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Thanks for this uplifting reminder that God knows right where we are. I like the KJV version that says "cast down but not destroyed" . . . He is faithful!
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Barb HodgesFebruary 17, 2011 at 7:35 PM
What a thoughtful addition to your prize. I never would have thought to dress up a jar for detergent. I love it. Be blessed, Rebecca.
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AnonymousFebruary 20, 2011 at 6:55 PM
Is your husband's sermon available online?
It is a timely topic.

Blessings,
Jen
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RebeccaFebruary 20, 2011 at 7:08 PM
No, Jen...it isn't. It was just a good, solid, reassuring word penned by a prophet who both foretold AND experienced hard times himself...
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"We simplify, not just to be less busy, even though we may be right to pursue that. Rather, we simplify to remove distractions from our pursuit of Christ. We prune activities from our lives, not only to get organized, but also that our devotion to Christ and service for His kingdom will be more fruitful. We simplify, not merely to save time, but to eliminate hindrances to the time we devote to knowing Christ. All the reasons we simplify should eventually lead us to Jesus Christ!" (Donald S. Whitney)

Dedicated to my sister-in-law, Beth--a TRUE home manager....

"I work for a King. He has put me in charge of his home. When He comes to see how I have managed His possessions and His children, I do not want to be found wanting. I want to do my best. Everything I have is on loan from Him. I have room and board and a job to do, but it is all for Him. Therefore I want to dress my best and do my best in all my work. I also want to be creative, for this is a sincere attempt to glorify Him and His beautiful creation. How I manage my home is a form of worship to Him." --Lydia Sherman

"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry,
and see a fine picture every day of his life,
in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Contentment makes poor men rich.

-Benjamin Franklin

"What I am gradually discovering is that in the writing I come in touch with the Spirit of God." ~ Nouwen

~~"Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting."~~Edmund Burke

C.S. Lewis: "To trust Him means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in trusting a person if you wouldn't take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him."

"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony." William Henry Channing

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Apostle Paul: "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

"It's a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally. It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet, and what is sand. It stops us from taking anything for granted. It has also taught me alot about living in the immediate moment. I am somehow managing to live one day, one hour at a time." Madeleine L'Engle

FIVE CERTAINTIES
WITH WHICH TO
START YOUR DAY

God holds you. Each day he carries us in his arms. Psalm 68:19 NLT
God sustains you. THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. Psalm 23:1 AMP
God covers you. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust. Psalm 91:4 AMP
God pours His love upon you. Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me. Psalm 42:8 NLT
God will not fail you. The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! Lamentations 3:22 NLT

THE BLOGGER'S PRAYER Lord, help me to learn to spell without spellcheck, manage to visit all that visit me, and post regularly - all in 5 minutes a day, so that I can clean house and take care of my family. Help me to not look at every occurrence in my life as a blog post, and to quit taking pictures of weird things to share as well. Please Lord, help me to stop talking about my blog friends as though they are next door neighbors or someone I have known all of my life. And help me, dear Lord, to think of something witty and wise to post tomorrow.
Love, The Dust Bunny Hostage

Sane, Simple, Sacred

Mercy