I'm a Thankful Mess

This girl, while I may appear all-together, there are just times, I am a mess. I'm confessing that because I heard the speaker at our church's "mission" this week make that confession. He said that his in-laws get a little uncomfortable with all the crosses and crucifixes in their home. In fact they have one in every room -- including their bathrooms. Along with the in-laws, you may ask "Why?" The speaker said "Because I'm a mess and I need that reminder every day who I need to be for my wife and kids." That makes sense to me. I, too, want to be reminded every day of Who I need to be for the WHOSE I am.

I am so thankful. Every day, I get to write stories about love, life, hope and joy. Stories that, hopefully, convey that life is so much sweeter when we get our priorities straight. God is the biggest part of it. I never want anything I say to sound like I'm venting -- but always imparting God's grace and mercy that is extended to us every day. You may not know that many days, I use this blog as a counseling session -- for ME! I like it that way: I come with issues. God comes with peace. I come weak. God comes with strength. I come needy, He comes ready to satisfy my every need. I come with a mess and He gives me a message.

I come needing an idea for a blog. God, my idea-provider, gives me wisdom. It's His specialty. This is our power boost -- coming weak and He comes on strong with His grace. This is our faith, being dependent on His faithfulness. I am so thankful. My posture of leaning on Him, reminds me that, every time, He's got big arms to hold me up. It helps me see that every bump in the road is softened because He’s the great shock-absorber. He brings glide to my ride! (I'm a poet. Didn't know it.)

I call. He answers. I cry. He catches my tears. He understands and draws near as I pursue Him and His Word. I wait (which sometimes feels like forever), He faithfully and, in His timing, rushes in. He’ll do the same for you. What weakness do you bear that His shoulders aren't strong enough to handle it? The Counselor waits. We show up for our appointment and before we know it, we are armored up with His strength and power. .

I’ve found this, after day-in-and-day-out writing on this blog, I see God’s goodness in the land of my living out life -- the messes, the tough times and the joy-filled times. I find Him there with open arms to give me just what I need -- especially when I need it the most. What seems impossible, He makes possible. I show up with my muddy combat boots on and He washes them off and lets me rest awhile. Then He sends me out another time. "And, through our God, I shall do valiantly. It is He Who will tread down my enemies." (Psalm 60:12) Indeed, God loves using mess-ups to do mighty works for Him.

What Symbols Do You Hold Dear?

We are surrounded by signs and symbols in everyday life. We make decisions based on them -- traffic signs, for example. What about our American flag that symbolizes the price our service men and women paid for our freedom? What about that coin on the sidewalk that reminds us “In God We Trust”?

When I was twelve, my boyfriend (who eventually became my husband) and I went on our first official (chaperoned) date. On my 13th birthday, he bought this pictured gold bracelet and charm for me with his savings. I still have that bracelet and charm. I wore that bracelet when I served communion a couple of Sundays ago. It made me feel like he was with me, serving. That bracelet was always a symbol of when we met and had our first date AND the sweet love we shared for so many years.

I heard a man share about the time when he bought his wife a crucifix as a gift. She opened the gift and said, “I can’t accept that, because Jesus is no longer on the cross”. I thought, “What a shame that someone would think that about a crucifix." There is no symbol more dear to Christians than the cross of Christ and the Crucifix. At one time, crosses represented only torture until death. Now, the cross, with or without the Jesus on the cross, is a symbol of the price Jesus paid for our salvation, healing and victory as he conquered death at His resurrection. When I see a crucifix or a cross, I thank God for His indescribable love for you and me that He gave us His One and only Son, that if we believe in Him, we will never perish, but will also have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Now, that’s a reminder I need to see everyday! Oh how He loves you and me!

Do I worship my bracelet or do I worship the cross or crucifix I wear? Oh, no! My bracelet AND my cross are beautiful reminders. Another symbol that we see is the Ichthys which is the Greek word for fish. Early Christians made an acrostic of it which means “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” The fish has plenty of references in the Bible, (for example, Jesus fed the 5,000 with 2 fishes and 5 loaves of bread and Jesus told His disciples to be Fishers of Men).

In the early church, the fish didn’t attract too much attention or suspicion (unlike the cross) so it was a perfect secret symbol for persecuted believers. When threatened by Romans in the first centuries after Christ, Christians used the fish mark in meeting places to distinguish friends from foes. According to one ancient story, when a Christian met a stranger in the road, the Christian would draw one arc of the simple fish outline in the dirt. If the stranger drew the other arc, both believers knew they were in good company and safe to admit they were Christians. Now you know the back story to the fish symbol we see used so often today. Thank God we are free to express our faith by wearing or displaying the cross or crucifix, unlike those in countries and places today, where they still must resort to secret signs & symbols.

What symbols are reminders to you of significant events, precious memories and even keep you in closer touch with God? Do you wear a wedding band? Does it represent the sacred marriage covenant you made before God with your spouse? Is your Bible just a book of stories on your coffee table, or are you reminded of God’s Word to His people that is a road map to success and victorious living if we apply its principles?

Symbols – reminders. What symbols do you hold near and dear to YOUR heart?