What do Coupons Have to Do with Obedience?

There’s been no art happening in my “studio” this week, at least not in the traditional sense. No, this week was a lesson in practical arts. A desire in my own becoming has been to be a better steward of this life gift, and money is the current focus.  So stewardship this week took the form of learning to shop the sales, use coupons, and stockpile. The result? 5 stores in 4 hours and $350 worth of groceries and toiletries for $230, some of which will last us 6 months or more.

Change is hard and a lot of work. Seldom do we get to see such immediate reward for obedience. I mean, wouldn’t it be awesome if we dropped 5 pounds after each workout? But the truth is that there is blessing in obeying what we know God has called us to. Sometimes the blessing it’s easy to recognize.  Other times it’s harder to discern.  We may have to wait a long time for the blessing, and we might not ever see it in this lifetime.

Sometimes the blessing isn’t even for us, but for someone else, which doesn’t seem fair and can make it really hard to obey.

“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” – Romans 5:19

Jesus was the ultimate obey-er and we get the blessing.

Clipping coupons seems rather paltry and insignificant compared to Christ’s sacrifice, but the heart to obey is the same. Which is the point.

So where does God have you focusing your obedience?  Have you seen blessing or are you waiting?

Linking up with Jennifer at studioJRU.

StudioJRU

Know the Truth

Know-the-Truth

 

Careful.  Cautious.  Planning for all contingencies.  This is me.

My mom says as a baby I didn’t walk until I was sure I could, so apparently I was born with perfectionism in tow.  This makes me great with details and quite capable and responsible, but to say I don’t like to make mistakes is a huge understatement.  Most of my life I’ve played it safe.  No risks.  Analyze a thing to death before moving.

Maybe not move at all.

There’s not much life in careful.  Fear of failure is paralyzing.

So is fear of success.

It took crisis in my life several years ago for God to break the pattern.  I found myself in a situation with absolutely no control, no way to anticipate the outcome, and no way to plan as He gently pried my fingers off the reins of my life and let me experience His truth.

“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

“It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” – Philippians 2:13

“For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28

I still don’t want to walk until I’m sure I can.  I still plan and analyze and prepare.  I’m still terribly afraid of the uncertain and the unknown.  But more and more I move anyway, in spite of the fear, in spite of the uncertainty, walking without knowing if I can, because what I do know is the Truth.

“Know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” – John 8:1

Know the truth and move anyway.

Grace,
Brenda

Saturday Somethings

One-Kind-Word

If you thought perhaps I’m yearning for spring, you’d be right. :-)

StudioJRUFirst off in Somethings this week, I have an introduction.  Meet Jennifer, writer of Ripplespeak.  She describes herself as “a wave rider,  art maker,  star gazer, tree hugger,  joy finder,  truth teller, song seer,  God believer,” and I have been blessed this week by her beautiful prose and the vibrant colors of her art and photos.  I have linked her blog up over at StudioJRU as part of a new and unique monthly blog party where we get to practice grace and kindness and share the blogs of others.    So click the button to the right and hop on over to share a blog you’ve been blessed by or to find new bloggy inspiration.

Now the rest of Saturday Somethings…

Something with Purpose:

International Sanctuary

Gorgeous jewelry.  Your purchase provides hope to survivors of human trafficking.

Something to Encourage:

Do You Believe You are Good at Relationships?

“Once I believed I could positively affect a person’s soul, a person’s feeling about themselves, I became a better friend all the more.”  Beautiful wisdom from the pen of Don Miller.

Something for the Word Nerd:

50 Collective Nouns to Bolster Your Vocabulary

Must.Share.Geeky.Stuff.  An Impatience of Wives?  Really?

This week’s Facebook cover:

Two-Cover

Grace,
Brenda

Two are Better

Two

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.”
~ Ecclesiastes 4:9 ~

He patiently listens as my words tumble over each other, a jumble of half-thoughts and ideas without names struggling to be defined.  He wants to understand, but after all these years, he knows there will likely be a few repetitions before he does. This wife of his thinks in words, and processes those thoughts with words.  Many, many, many words.  The words will bring me hope, or peace, or decision, or understanding, and the articulation draws the mess of them from chaos into clarity.  To be honest, it drives us both a little crazy, but I need it nearly as much as my next breath.  It is work, for both of us.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 tells us two are better than one.  Simple wisdom, obvious truth, but not always easy to apply.  Two can mean risk.  Two can be work.  But two can be beautiful.  The mister is the one who most often makes me two, but sometimes it’s a girlfriend or a mentor or a pastor.  It doesn’t really matter who, as the truth remains, two are better, and if you struggle against not good enough, two are vital.  We don’t always see the lies for what they are and we need someone alongside to tell us the truth.

So who makes you two?  If no one comes to mind, please find someone.  It’s worth the work.  It’s worth the risk.

And if you’re dreaming a God-sized dream, two are infinitely better.  The encouragement is ongoing with Holley & Co.  Come join us for inspiration and hope to pursue that dream.

 

Grace,
Brenda

Saturday Somethings

Snowy-Yard-BW

No snow here at the moment, but I wish it would come back.  If it has to be cold, I’d much rather see this out my window than dead grass and lifeless trees.

Anyway, on to Saturday Somethings…

Something to Inspire:

You Have a Choice

This is totally worth the time.  Trust me, the best is at the end.

Something Quirky:

Fantastically Geeky Furniture

Confession…I posted this link on my Facebook wall and tagged my whole family…and they all chose their favorite!  The geekiness runs deep, I tell ya. :D

Something Lovely:

Shire

Such an incredibly peaceful image. 

Grace,
Brenda

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