This summer has been challenging for me. Please don't read that the summer has not be most excellent, oh my, it has....but challenging. I have felt beat down and have been struggling with, well, I really can't put my finger on what had me down. Please note the past tense HAD.
I told y'all that Melanie Shankle from the Big Mama blog was coming to Tyler. I could barely contain my excitement before and after the event. She spoke and I swear her words were directed to me! I had been praying for God to give me something...like a Psalm 257....dear Tiffany... To help me out of the ridiculous funk I was stuck in.
Well, he gave me Big Mama's words. They were so sweet and wonderful. I "know" this beautiful lady from her blog and the book I just finished.
It's a wonderful book about being a mom and loving even the hard times. She's funny and frank. My two favorite adjectives!
So, here's what she said. (Shared with permission...yes, I actually talked to her!!! I'll tell you about that below.)
From the Pasture to the Throne
1 Samuel 16. This is the story of when King David was called by God to be the next king of Isreal.
The Lord said to Samuel, r“How long will you grieve over Saul, since sI have rejected him from being king over Israel? tFill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, ufor I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, v‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. wAnd you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city xcame to meet him trembling and said, y“Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. zConsecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they came, he looked on aEliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, b“Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, cbut the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called dAbinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made dShammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, e“There remains yet the youngest,1 but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, f“Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in.
I tried to paste it in and it looks funny, but the point is that Samuel went to Jesse to find the next king. He went through all of Jesse's sons except David...the one he left in the pasture with the sheep... Left out in the pasture. If God can find David in the pasture and use him, he can surely find you amongst the dirty clothes and floors.... Right??
Stay the course when the crap piles up around you.... Remain in Him... Let (Melanie) tell you why...
1. He is absolutely calling you to something. (Jeremiah 29:11)
2. Everything in your life has been preparing you for what God wants you to do. (Your history is a part of your story....it makes you the perfect you)
3. There will always be obstacles in your way. (Your whole life is more than you can handle so that the only way you can make it is with Him)
4. The path won't always be clear. (Our hero, David, asked God if he was sure about choosing him in 2 Samuel)
5. We are called to leave the comfortable and familiar behind.
6. You will make mistakes. (God's grace is bigger than your mistakes)
7. Others won't understand. (2 Samuel 6:21 David danced in the streets.... Like a crazy man.)
8. You will be blessed beyond measure when you walk out what God has for you. There will be peace and contentment, you will not find it.....IT'S HIM!
Ephesians 3:20 He has more than you can imagine for you.
Take a deep breath and let it soak in. You are beautiful and amazing and a masterpiece.
See, she knows my name....
And my face.
When I walked up to her for her autograph, my heart was pounding. I was blessed by her words and had defaced her book with my notes.... And she was funny and gracious. I told her that I was thankful for her and that I wanted to seem classy, so I took out my toilet paper book mark before I walked in the building. (She agreed that was classy!)
Please be encouraged. If you are struggling, pray for Psalm 258: "dear you
" or writing on the wall for direction or the hug that you need today.
Be loved beautiful.
Joyfully full of it...whatever it is!
Tiff
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