Teachable moments...

 

God uses the smallest and sometimes painful lessons to be teachable moments.  Have you ever done something that you really don’t want to share but is a teachable lesson for your children or friends?  I am going to share one of those stories.  Please give me grace here…

Many seasons ago when my children were young, I operated a home daycare along with homeschooling my three.  I had a lot more energy back then, in case you are wondering how…  Each day would begin by setting up the daycare equipment before the kids would arrive.  Then the meal planning would ensue.  I fed five plus my three multiple times during the day.  I had a daily schedule on the refrigerator to keep things in order and forced a bit of variety.  I would plan a week of meals in advance and have them ready to go when the kids arrived.

One afternoon I was running late, and I didn’t leave enough time for my hamburgers to thaw before separating and cooking them for lunch.  As the kids were sitting at the table doing an activity waiting on me, I grabbed a steak knife and proceeded to separate the burgers.  As I was holding the knife, a fleeting thought of – ‘I better be careful – this probably isn’t a good idea’ crossed my mind.

Then I slipped with the knife, and it went through the hamburger and into my hand.   The bone in my hand stopped the knife.   For a minute I thought it was okay because I didn’t feel any pain. 

Then I felt it…

The sharp pain was intense.  I grabbed a dishcloth and wrapped my hand for a minute and let my oldest know he was going to finish making the burgers while I addressed the issue at hand. 

Sorry for the pun…

The good news is that I didn’t need stitches and by fate, the cut followed the line in my hand, so the scar just accentuated the line. 

That was a painful lesson for me but also a teachable moment for my kids.  The kids were told that day to never to do what I just did.  I was determined to take my own advice going forward and never used a steak knife again to separate frozen meat.

The dull ache lasted for days.  Many days later as I stared at the scar on my palm, I meditated on what Jesus did for me on that cross. I can’t begin to imagine how painful that was for Him. 

And He did it for you and me…

Today I have a small reminder of what He did for me on the cross when I look at my hand.

Sometimes scars are long term lessons in life.  My scar is a teachable moment and reminder of His love for me.

Job 6:24 (NIV)

“Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.

Psalms 119:33 (NIV)

Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end.

Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

 

What is your why?

 

Last Sunday in church many were reading about the palms being placed at Jesus feet.  Some churches handed out palms that were folded into a cross to take home as a reminder of Palm Sunday. 

Everyone felt the excitement in the air during Jesus’s time that week.  People were shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”  We could make assumptions about the climate that day.  You could almost see the sunshine coming through the clouds warming the ground that the donkey slowly carried Jesus.  The noise from the crowd was joyful as the people followed Jesus into town placing palms at his feet.

Then within days, everything changed.  There was a chill in the air.  The happy faces were suddenly angry.  Shouts of “Hosanna” suddenly turned to “Crucify him!”  How quickly a crowd can change.  How quickly opinions can be swayed.

We also live in a fickle crowd.  One day a person has his or her fifteen minutes of fame, and then the next day they are tossed aside for the new big thing.

What makes the difference is not the crowd, but the person.  What is your WHY?  Jesus knew his before he turned towards the cross that week.  He knew his WHY - and I am so grateful for that.

There will be naysayers every day to discourage and deter you from God’s calling on your life.  Some people have other agendas.  Some just want others to feel the pain they are currently experiencing.  We need to keep our eyes on our WHY - Jesus.  Not on recognition or praise from others.  God will give us the strength for each step.  There will be difficulties in our life.  We were promised that in scripture.  What we need to do is remember our heavenly Father will be with us through it all.

Keep your WHY secured firmly in your heart.  Ignore the noise around you.  

Gods got this and You.  Then you will finish the race - with your eyes focused on Him.

 

Matthew 21: 7-9

7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

Fill your cup

 

Mid-week thoughts…

As we balance on the beam of Wednesday, or as some call hump-day, I was reflecting on how much energy I didn’t have this morning.  I haven’t had the luxury to take it easy lately due to many obligations at work and United Marriage Encounter.  My husband and I tried to get to bed early last night because he had a training this morning that required him to be up one hour earlier for travel. 

I was hoping for a restful night.  However once in bed, I tossed and turned for an hour until I finally fell asleep.  I ended up praying for friends and family during that time until I finally drifted off to sleep.  It was His plan to pray.  Sometimes His plans are not in line with mine, but still perfect so I need to accept them.  Praying also helps me focus on what is important. 

I woke up with my husband early this morning by rambunctious puppies.  They wanted attention because dad was busy getting ready to leave and they needed to go out.  I slowly got out of bed and let them out to do their morning business.  I then proceeded to grab their morning treat.  As I came back to the door, I watched the puppies sprinting towards the tree line after two very large deer.  I opened the door and yelled so loud that I believe the neighbors heard me.  I know the deer did because they also stopped in their tracks and looked at me like, “Seriously lady?”

The puppies turned and ran right back to the house excited to get their morning treats.  I was grateful because I really didn’t want to chase them across the yard in my fancy purple robe…  That would be another story for another time.

My cup was empty this morning.  I had very little sleep this past week and didn’t feel excited to tackle the day that was ahead of me.

That is when I took a moment to pause and reflect on His word through my devotionals.  Resetting my day so to speak by reading His word and experiencing His peace.  It helped to stop and refocus on what was important.  I may not get everything done today because I was tired.  But I could do what I could for the time being. 

It is okay to not go at light speed every day.  (I am speaking this truth to myself as well as to you today)

It is also good to take time and rest.  I am thankful for my husband who blessed me by booking a get-a-way this weekend.  It is my five-year anniversary with the company and booking a get-a-way was his gift to me.  I was so grateful because we have been going at light speed for months and needed the rest.

My cup has been a bit empty.

How about you?   How is your cup?  How are you filling your cup?

Don’t forget to fill it with Him first.  The one who can give you the strength to make it through the day.  Then fill it with fellowship and time away.  Time away doesn’t mean a long planned out vacation.  It can be an afternoon of quiet and reflection.

We can’t pour from an empty cup. We burn out and then are no good to anyone.  We need our cups filled to pour into others.

If your cup is full, this is a gentle reminder to consider pouring into someone else’s cup this week.  You may know someone who has had a rough week.  A text, or a call is a small but meaningful gesture to someone in need. 

Let them know it’s okay to take a break too…

 

Psalm 91:1-2

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.91:1 Hebrew Shaddai

2I  will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

Springtime thoughts...

I love springtime!  The new growth sprouting from the ground and on the trees brings joy to my heart.  Sometimes the flowers come through the snow because we do live in the Upstate (NY) and the flowers are as eager as I am to bring change and usher out winter’s chill.

This week I have been meditating on Ecclesiastes 3 because we are heading into a new season.  I was also reminded by the calendar that my grandmother has been dining with the Lord for 16 years.  This is a picture from many years ago of Grandma Peggy in one of her stylish outfits she often wore.  

 

Yes, I have her name, I was the favorite because I was names after her.  Her legal name was Margaret, but everyone called her Peggy.   I spent many years responding to the question, “Is Margaret your legal name?”  “No”, I would tell them and then proceed with the story of how I was given the name. 

Grandma left an imprint in my heart, and she did whatever she could to help me feel special and important.  God used her to bring a ray of sunshine in my otherwise difficult childhood.  I cherish all the memories I had with her.  Even though Grandma didn’t come to the Lord until she was older, she lived her life blessing others around her through her hospitality.  She could throw an extraordinary party, and no one left hungry or wanting for anything.  She showed her love through her gift of hospitality.

Springtime for me is an excellent time to reflect on all the changes that occurred since the previous year.  So much has changed… some good and some not so good.  Time marches on even still.  The new plant growth in springtime reminds me that I have another opportunity to change for the better.  I can cling to His mercy and grace as I grow in Christ each day.  I can take stock in my actions from the previous year and make the necessary adjustments in my finances, my relationships, and in my walk with the Lord.

Springtime is a great chance to ‘clean house’ so to speak in our lives.  I want to continue to grow in my relationship with Christ.  If I am not pressing in, I am becoming stagnant.  Take this opportunity to press in and dig deeper with your relationships.

Don’t miss the opportunity.  Time marches by swiftly and the next thing you know it is another spring.  There have been 16 springs since I saw my grandmother.  Someday, someone will say that about me.  What am I leaving behind as a legacy?  What are you leaving behind as your legacy? 

Take this time to reflect on the gifts our heavenly Father has given you.  How are you using them to bless others and leave a Godly legacy? 

Dig deeper today to get the soil in your heart ready for planting and harvest time.

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.