Dancing in the Light

I John 1:7 "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin."

Name:
Location: North Platte, Nebraska, United States

I am a christian wife, mother and grandmother. I am a licensed Social worker and a licensed Christian counselor. I am most proud of the relationships I have with God, my family and friends all over the world. I have been blessed beyond my dreams.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Still Shakin'

Ever felt totally overwhelmed? Ever looked around you and wondered if, or knew for sure, you had to be dreaming? Ever knew beyond a shadow of a doubt this could not be your reality? I'm there!!! Truly--I know that I must be living someone else's life. I have been praying that God would help me use His Word as a mirror for my life. That I would look into the Holy Scriptures and be able to discern both my strengths and my weaknesses. That I would have the courage to yield my will to His and become more like Him every day. That I would put away selfishness and vanity and see, I mean really see, those around me and put forth that extra effort to encourage and edify them. That I would focus, truly focus on the eternal things and allow God to take care of the temporal things. Like I said, this has been my prayer. Only, I haven't liked what the Word has shown me. I haven't liked what I saw in the mirror. And so, on a daily basis, I am striving to change that, to work on the flaws, to let God's grace cover the imperfections. I really want to see Him when I look in that mirror, but as of yet, I don't. That is my reality!!!
The part that has me confused is the enormous and abundant blessings bestowed on one so flawed. As I sit and look around me, I am overwhelmed by how much God loves me. I cannot believe He would see me, (and I know He sees me as I truly am) and love me enough to die. I am amazed He could see my meager offerings to Him in time, money, effort, talents, etc and still give me more and more. I cannot comprehend how He hears the words from my mouth that are less than patient, less than encouraging, less than godly and yet He gives me more and more opportunities. Isn't He afraid I will mess up again? He doesn't seem to be.
I am not always a good wife. Sometimes, I take my husband for granted. Sometimes, I put my needs before his. Sometimes, I am less than supportive. And yet, God gave me, not one, but two husbands. Husbands who truly loved me.
I am not always a good mother. Sometimes, I am sarcastic with my children. Sometimes, I set my expectations too high. Sometimes, I get angry and say unkind things to and about my children. And yet, God continues to give me a good relationship with them.
I am not always a good daughter. Sometimes, I am rude to my parents. Sometimes, I roll my eyes when they talk to me, like I did when I was thirteen. And yet, God gave me godly parents who love me and love Him, parents who are loving and supportive.
I am not always a good christian. Sometimes, I get frustrated with my brothers and sister. Sometimes I get angry with excuses and want to vent on them. Sometimes, I think hateful thoughts about them because they have not done what I wanted. And yet, God places me in congregations filled with loving, godly christians, good friends, friends we can laugh and cry with, friends who really care about us.
I know my flaws and I know God does, too. I truly am trying to be better. I am trying to give it my all. I think that is what God did and does for me---He gives me His all. All of the best He has, He gives me. It has nothing to do with what I deserve. It only has to do with loving me. That is overwhelming---that is the part of my reality that is so very difficult to grasp. Praise God that I do not have to understand it to accept it. I am very grateful that He takes all I have to give and blesses me with all He has. He says, "Give and it will be given to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. will be poured into your lap." When I give my all, He gives His.---He presses it down and continues to shake it together---still shakin', still shakin' , still shakin' . . .

Neva
PS--How cool is that? :)

25 Comments:

Blogger The Preacher's Household: said...

Dito!

You know from our conversations this says volumes about me as well.

James

Thanx for the e-mail :)

9:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh Neva
This is really how we all feel. None of us deserve the blessings--yet He keeps giving them.
A wonderful post. Thank you

Pat

10:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Me, too.
He is still shaking and pouring them out.

Great post.

Jean

11:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am with you---God's love is amazing, and not one of us deserves the blessings we have. Even when we are exhausted, overwork and underpaid and when we are sick and tired and in pain, He still blesses and blesses.
Good post sister,
Dan

8:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hear you, Neva. Praise God for the blessings He gives us, in spite of us.

10:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All I can say is Amen!!
Not a one of us could say any different than we are blessed above abd beyond


Good post
Dean

12:43 PM  
Blogger The Preacher's Household: said...

Your confessions could be lifted right off my prayer list. I am glad that not only God forgives me that also the people around me do too.
Kath

1:08 PM  
Blogger Mommysmart said...

Beautifully written! And for the record you are blessing me with your posts. God is not just pouring blessings over you, but pouring them through you. Thanks for always sharing from the heart.

Monica

1:36 PM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

Neva, after a week of frustration and stress this was a great post to read. It is so easy to pigeonhole in seeing only the negative things when life is frustrating, and that's certainly been my week. But your post got me thinking about reconnecting in my identity as God's beloved. Peace to you, Jen

2:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I read your heart in your words and it is no wonder God blesses you so much--you are obviously trying to serve him. He is truly an awesome God!

Yvonne

5:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva
You know just the words I need to hear. Thank you for reminding me how blessed i am.

Eileen

5:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am crazy about this post. I have printed it to remind me that I am blessed and that I am not alone in my struggles to be like Him.
Great post.
Carol

7:06 PM  
Blogger TREY MORGAN said...

Wow... Just what I needed right now. I've needed lots of shaking this week.

Thanks for being my friend.

7:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A great reminder,
Karli

8:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Praise God for His blessings, praise him for using you to help us all remember how much we are loved.
Thank you

Mary

Thank you for the encouraging note you sent us---your words and prayers were very kind.

8:54 PM  
Blogger Bobby Cohoon said...

Amen Sis!

9:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like the line:
'He takes all I have to give and blesses me with all He has'

This post was a blessing.

-Martin.

11:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Neva -

Just stopped by to see how you are doing and it sounds like very well, despite all of the angst and frustrations. Life is full of them as satan (I refuse to captitalize that name) tries to wrest away from us the joys found in Christ and the blessed peace and love we receive from our Father.

Thanks for some good reminders of what we should be thankful for and how to achieve that grace - accept it and be overwhelmed by it and then share the Good News with others, as you've done today.

I'm still praying for you and your family all the time!

Cheers & Blessings today! Dee

5:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is just what I needed today, thank you

Roger

8:08 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love this kind of post---as you say, Way cool!



Karin

9:35 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
What a great post. You should work up a series of lessons on blessings. You would be able to present it so well.

Keep up the great work
Rachel

12:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I totally agree with all the comments---and with the post, teehee

Lyndsay

12:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wonderful words--thank you for sharing them with the blogsphere.


Samantha

8:26 PM  
Blogger Candle (C & L) said...

Shake me a little too!! Other than being a husband, son and father everthinhyou said could havebeen mewriting (except I could never put it so eloquently).

One thing I have done at times is after I'velooked amyself in the mirror openlyandhonestlyand saw some pretty uckystuff -- I've thought how wonderful it is toknowthat Godis there behind the glasslooking atme through the precious bloodof his sonand he see NONE ofthat -- in his eyes I'm that handsomeperfect guy I was when I was eighteen :):) (well actually in his eyes I'm that perfect guy I never was and never will bethisside of heaven -- and that is indeed very COOL!!!

God Bless
Charlie

3:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, me too. I cant believe how much God keeps on blessing me over and over again. He is an awesome God. Dont that make you want to sing?

2:20 PM  

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