Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Reaching out...

Do you ever just feel like reaching out?!! Reaching out to others ~~ reaching out to yourself ~~ reaching out to God, most importantly...

That is where I am right now....reaching.

The Scripture that I am working on is II Corinthians 4:7 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." And it makes me reach.

Our pastor preached a message on this very passage a couple of weeks and ago and it touched a deep cord in me, because you see, I understand being a clay pot; a broken down, cracked, ugly clay pot. And yet, God sees this clay pot as a treasure. I am not sure how He does it and all, knowing my weaknesses, but He does. He sees me as treasure.

We are treasures in jars of clay, but why? So God can show His all-surpassing power through us. Because it is not from us, ya know?!!

Lately I have struggled, hence the fact that the post never came yesterday. I am reluctant to even talk about it here, because it is just hard. But the post that never came yesterday was on healing. We all have opinions and thoughts on the matter it would seem and in times past I've been very hurt by well-meaning people saying things like "if you'd just have enough faith, you'd be healed." So I'd try that. I'd try mustering up the faith. I'd pray and pray and then feel very defeated that I couldn't even muster up one of those little grains of the mustered seed full of faith and their small.

But then................

God has been teaching me some beautiful truths lately about who He is and how messed-up my focus gets sometimes. Why am I even focusing on a mustard seed, when I need to have my eyes FIXED on the one who created the mustard see and me for that matter?

I have dealt with knee issues since the age of 7. Yes 7. Apparently I had a predisposition to arthritis at a very young age. Doc says they really don't see that much, and they certainly don't see knee surgery at that age. So it is something that I have learned to live with. The doc's have told me for years that as I got older this would be a definite problem, well apparently I am getting older =)

Lately, I have struggled more I guess because the pain has increased in both knees and I hit the one year mark after surgery where they tell you things like, "it will take a full year." Well, it has been a full year and still...well, it still hurts and is limiting and blah,blah,blahblahblah!!!

So Sunday night I lay on the couch with my legs in my dear husbands arms as he rubbed them and talked with me about believing. You see, because he does. He believes that God is going to touch these knees and heal them. I have struggled with this. I don't want to struggle with this, but I do.

Yesterday was a new day for me in this area. I prayed for healing yesterday for these knees, and I prayed in faith. God is doing a work in me. He is strengthening my faith and working a beautiful testimony through this pain. And I am thankful. Thankful for the trial, thankful for the pain, thankful that He brings me to a place of total dependence on Him. Thankful for my husband who is faith in action. Yes thankful. I am so thankful. And that works out well, since Thanksgiving is just a little over a week away!!

Love you all so ~~ have a beautiful day

4 comments:

  1. wow... your comment on focusing on the mustard seed is just too spot on!!!

    And dont feel alone .. I am that cracked, messed up, broken jar right next to you on the shelf... but its God's shelf! And he still pulls us off & uses us & thinks we're just what he needs in circumstances to do His work! :)

    What a wonderful husband you have to encourage you too... just a blessing to you, I'm sure..

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  2. I am with both you and Rebecca Jo as far as being a cracked, messed up jar on God's shelf. I'm amazed that He uses me when I am so undeserving.

    God is doing a great work in you, Dawn, and it is a blessing to read about. I am praying for healing for you as well.

    Blessings,
    Carol

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  3. Dawn,

    I even at this moment, and thanking God for the healing of your knees that He is bringing. God is great in all His blessings and He will restore you once again. I know He will! We all have that much faith. Thank you God for answering this prayer of the faithful!

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  4. Dawn,
    Your faith will get you through this. That's all it takes is faith. You have it. It is shown daily in your posts. We all stumble occasionally and question our faith, but the important thing is to return to our faith. You do.
    I will keep you in my prayers.

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