Unfading
     Beauty

An Attitude of Gratitude Makes Our Lives a Beatitude

True praise is an enriching experience. It was so with David.  As you read his Psalms of praise, you find him thanking God for things in heaven and things on earth.  For material blessings and spiritual blessings.  For joyful experiences as well as difficult experiences.  The challenges David experienced enriched his life because he knew how to praise the Lord.  Consider his words . . .

·                  "Thou hast enlarged my steps under me” (Psalm 4:1).

·                  "Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip" (Psalm 18:36).

When difficulties befall us, they only become a liability when we complain.  However, if we choose to praise God, those same difficulties will allow our lives to become a Beatitude.              

An increase in the frequency of praise and thanksgiving is evidence that an attitude of gratitude functions in our lives.  When we choose to expand our praise life, expressing gratitude to both our heavenly Father and those who enrich our earthly existence is a reflex response. As we experience this response we can then say like David, "He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because he delighted in me" (Psalm 18:19). 

Diagnosing and Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude

So, as the holiday season approaches, are you excited about giving the gift of gratitude?  Your results on the Gratitude Gauge you completed as you read Part One will help you respond to the question.  Use the Gratitude Gauge Scale to interpret it.

Gratitude Gauge Scale

100-90 - a maturing attitude of gratitude

89-80 - a commitment to an attitude of gratitude

79-70 – an understanding of what constitutes an attitude of gratitude

69-60 – a minimal commitment to an attitude of gratitude

59- 0 – an attitude adjustment is needed

Now that your attitude toward gratitude is diagnosed, consider completing this project designed to help you to focus on cultivating an attitude of gratitude.  I believe that as you conclude it you will find that you have many gifts of gratitude to distribute.  The impact on your bank account—nothing.  The blessings bestowed on others—immeasurable!

·                     Simple things I thankful for:

·                     Specific people I am thankful for:

·                     Write a note of gratitude to at least five of the names you listed.  Place a check mark by their names when the notes have been sent.

·                     My reaction to Expressing Gratitude:

·                     Evaluate your Gratitude Gauge Score.

·                     Use the verses that follow to develop principles for increasing your Gratitude Gauge Score.  I provided an example for you.

Ø      Psalm 18:49—I will choose to give thanks to God and sing praises to His name.

Ø      Psalm 103:3-5

Ø      Romans 1:21

Ø      1 Thessalonians 5:18

Ø      1 Corinthians 15:57

Ø      1 Timothy 4:4

·                     As you contemplate your gift list this holiday season, will you place Gratitude at the top?

Many of the readers of Unfading Beauty took the time from their impacted schedules to complete the “My Perceptions on Homemaking Survey.”  At its outset I prayed for the return of 1000 surveys.  When the data collection began earlier this month 1,966 surveys were returned.  Truly our gracious heavenly Father said “yes” to the prayer.  A special thank you to all who participated in the study!

            I wanted to provide a brief summary of the study in this edition of Unfading Beauty.  If you would care for the full summary simply e-mail me at drennis@masters.edu.

The Population

            The age range of the population was 15-90 with the median age falling into the 45-54 age range.  Seventy-five of the respondents were male and 1,891 were female.  Six different continents were represented.  1,948 of the respondents considered themselves Christians while 18 did not.

Survey Results and Implications

The enthusiastic response to the survey suggests that a need exists for the 21^st evangelical community to seriously consider the need for the implementation of the Titus 2:3-5 principle that challenges women to acquire the facts and life skills needed to successfully manage their home.  Likewise, it must acknowledge, identify, and correct the devastating effect that feminism continues to exact on its members.

 While not reported in this summary, the e-mails that accompanied the requests for the summary of the survey findings reflected a deep concern that the generation of younger women is frequently theologically sound but practically inept in the godly attitudes and skills required to manage a home that glorifies their heavenly Father.  Thus, the admonition offered in Titus 2:5 is coming to fruition—God’s Word is being discredited.

The mean scores of the 869 respondents between age 45 and 90 indicated that they possess the majority of the skills and much of the knowledge to establish a godly home.  However, the same respondents listed the very skills that they practice skillfully as deficient in the younger women.  Just as the younger women should embrace a teachable spirit towards acquiring the knowledge base and skills for successful home management, so the older women must heed the Titus 2:3-5 instruction to be willing to teach the younger women.  Only when the younger and older partner together to fulfill this biblical mandate will the Christian home be recovered.

            The survey contained 3 open-ended questions:

·                    Feminism has impacted the 21^st century culture in the following ways:

·                    Feminism has impacted the 21^st century evangelical community in the following ways:

·                  The homemaking skills many Christian women lack are:

The cumulative response (each respondent was able to list three reasons) to the statement,   “Feminism has impacted the 21^st century culture in the following ways” totaled 3,115. These responses revealed the following general effects:

Feminism has impacted the 21^st century culture in the following ways:

a. Moms/women working outside the home  

b. Demeaned the model of biblical womanhood

c. Breakdown of the family

d. Weakened/devalued men

e. Increased abortion  

The cumulative response (each respondent was able to list three reasons) to the statement

“Feminism has impacted the 21^st century evangelical community in the following ways” totaled 2,570.  These responses revealed the following general effects:

Feminism has impacted the 21^st century evangelical community in the following ways:

a. Women pastors/leaders

b. Lack of biblical submission

c. Women working outside the home

d. Lack of understanding of biblical gender roles

e. Weakened family/increased divorce rate

The cumulative response (each respondent was able to list three reasons) to the statement, “The homemaking skills many Christian women lack are” totaled 3,886.  These responses revealed the following general effects:

The homemaking skills many Christian women lack are:

a. Cooking                                                                              

b. Sewing                                           

c. Organization

d. Time Management

e. Hospitality

f. Cleaning

What Will Happen with the Survey Results?

This summary provides a global analysis of the survey data.  Continued in-depth analysis will allow the data to be used to its fullest potential.  I will report the results on Unfading Beauty as it becomes available.  Thanks again for your interest in the study!

Thanksgiving ushers in the holiday season.  Tantalizing aromas, gala events, and clandestine shopping trips consume much of our time from late November to January 1.  Easily caught up in the activities of the holiday season, it is easy to neglect the most important present to offer others—the gift of gratitude. 

Before the gift of gratitude is unwrapped, may I encourage you to spend some time responding to the “Gratitude Gauge”?  It is designed to help diagnose your attitude toward gratitude.   The “Gratitude Gauge Interpretation” will be posted in the next entry.

Gratitude Gauge

Place the number that best reflects your response to the statement in the space provided. 

Use the following scale:

5 = regularly                                                   2 = seldom

4 = usually                                                      1 = very seldom

3 = sometimes                                                0 = never

1.                             I quickly acknowledge that expressing gratitude is a biblical instruction.

2.                             I recognize that a complaining spirit is symptomatic of the fact that I lack a grateful heart.

3.                             I understand that cultivating a grateful heart is a life-long process.

4.                             I believe that the condition of my spiritual heart determines my spiritual health.

5.                            I am increasing in my knowledge of the Word.

6.                            I thank my heavenly Father for my spiritual blessings.

7.                            I thank my heavenly Father for my material blessings.

8.                            I thank my heavenly Father for my joyful experiences.

9.                            I thank my heavenly Father for my difficult experiences.

10.                        I offer thanks to others when they extend kindness to me.

11.                        I seek to speak encouraging words to others.

12.                        I quickly acknowledge that sincere gratitude enriches my life.

13.                        I am seeking seek to serve others.

14.                        I maintain contact with missionaries and seek to share some of their burdens.

15.                        I understand that giving thanks is generated from my will.

16.                        I am aware that being thankful is generated from my emotions.

17.                        I "pause for praise" throughout the day.

18.                        Others affirm my grateful spirit.

19.                        I acknowledge that how I respond to the biblical instruction about expressing gratitude affects my spiritual health.

20.                        I am like the one leper described in Luke 17:15-16 who returned to thank the Lord for healing him.

            Gratitude Gauge Total

Unwrapping the Gift of Gratitude

The English word gratitude is derived from the same word that gives us grace.  Do you know that gratitude and grace are Siamese twins?  Since Christians daily experience the grace of God, and if they look for ways to acknowledge that it is at work in their lives and the lives of others, then they have many reasons to express gratitude.  However, many complain more frequently than they express gratitude—and they don't realize what devastating effects their complaining has on their spiritual lives.  Though they may temporarily feel better emotionally for transferring their negative thoughts to others, the spiritual toll that the emotional release renders is often devastating. 

The impact of a negative, complaining spirit is significant, as the following example illustrates. A part of my advising responsibilities includes the completion of a “Senior Contract” for each of my advisees anticipating graduation.  Since the task is time-consuming, I eagerly agreed to be a part of the piloting of an online version of the “Senior Contract.”  It was an incredible experience! I quickly e-mailed the programmer and expressed my gratitude for his work on the project.  His response brought tears to my eyes—“Thanks for your kind words.  I usually only hear from people if they have a complaint!”  I was again reminded that the best antidote for a complaining spirit is an attitude of gratitude, and that is something that must be cultivated daily.

The Gratitude Cycle

Did you know that true gratitude expands your ministry opportunities?  Consider the “Gratitude Cycle”:

·                  The more thankful we are, the more we are aware of our many blessings. 

·                  If we only offer praise and thanksgiving when things go our way, we develop tunnel vision. 

·                  If we are grateful for all that our heavenly Father brings into our life, then our horizons expand.

·                  When our horizons expand, our ability to sincerely offer praise, regardless of the circumstances, increases! 

I can speak with conviction about the validity of the “Gratitude Cycle.”  Many circumstances in my life (abandonment as an infant, orphaned by adoptive parents in my early twenties, being single, to name a few) initially appear as insurmountable obstacles. However, as I choose to believe that my Lord is a sun and shield; that He gives grace and glory; and that there is no good thing that He will withhold from me if I am walking uprightly (Psalm 84:11), I realize that all I need to do is take care of the walking uprightly part (that includes being grateful for all things), and He does the rest!  Looking in retrospect at the seemingly devastating circumstances, I can now see how my loving heavenly Father used each as a vehicle to shape my character and to enhance my ministry to others.

Thank you very much to those of you who participated in the survey being conducted to discern the perception of Christians about the life skills commonly associated with the management of the home. We have had an excess of 1900 responses! If you would still like to participate in this survey, please use the link below.

There are two ways you can participate:

• Complete the survey by clicking on this link or copy the following link into your browser: 
  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5_2bZtXdA7wAavmfimfqrfRA_3d_3d
  
  
• Forward the link to the appropriate individuals on your e-mail address list.
  
  
• Distribute the survey/survey link to those in your Sunday School class, Bible study, etc.
  • If you are willing to distribute the suvey in your Christican circle, I will reimburse you for the copy charges and postage.  
  • Simply request a reproducible survey and reimbursement form from me (drennis@masters.edu).

Thank you!

I recall finishing a class session one Friday afternoon with five questions that were focused on gracious speech.  As I closed in prayer I asked my heavenly Father to remind everyone in the class, including the professor, to put their conversations during the weekend through the grid of these questions.  When I returned to class on Monday, I noticed that Melanie, a generally gregarious young woman, was glumly slumped in a chair in the back row of the classroom.  I approached her and inquired, “Melanie is there something the matter?”  She responded, “Yes, there is—you ruined my weekend!”  Since a major assignment was not due that day, I was curious as to how I so negatively impacted her weekend.  “Could you share with me how I ruined your weekend?”  “Well, you know how I LOVE to talk—but since I asked myself your five questions before speaking, I found that I did not have much to say.  That’s how you ruined my weekend!”  I finished our conversation by affirming my pleasure in her choosing to apply what I was teaching her—she simply sighed as I walked to the front of the classroom.

You may be curious as to the content of the five questions that had such a profound effect on Melanie’s weekend—I want to share them with you; however, before I do I need to place them in context.  I was teaching about the biblical Multi-tasked Woman found in Proverbs 31 and  challenging my students to implement the truth of Proverbs 31:24, “she opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”  I encouraged them to say to anyone who begins to share information they know they cannot refrain from repeating, “Stop, please do not tell me that—I am not trustworthy!”  The conclusion to the day’s lecture was a challenge to put everything they said during the weekend through the grid of five questions . . .

·                     Is it kind?

·                     Is it necessary?

·                     Is it true?

·                     Is it gossip?  (Sharing private information with those who are not a part of the solution)

·                     Am I defending my own opinion rather than listening to the individual?

As Melanie reviewed these questions she found that she needed to allow her Lord to help her learn to speak graciously—as you consider them how would you evaluate your speech?  The Multi-tasked Woman who speaks graciously exhibits some specific qualities . . .

·                     She uses good judgment and discretion (Colossians 4:6). 

·                     Rather than being too aggressive or bossy, gentleness (Proverbs 15:1) and compassion characterize her words (Ecclesiastes 10:12-14). 

·                     She possesses the ability to be kind, yet very firm, as well as the ability to maintain confidences. 

·                     Truthfulness is evident in her relationships with others (Ephesians 4:15).

·                     She realizes that what she meditates upon will emerge in her speech (Psalm 19:14; Luke 6:45).

·                     Within her family relationships, she refuses to discredit her husband’s character and speaks with firmness, balanced with kindness and gentleness, when disciplining her children. 

Having placed her speech through the characteristics for gracious speech, the Multi-tasked Woman chooses to make encouragement a part of her lifestyle—especially since it is a spiritual directive (Hebrews 10:25).  She understands that the act of biblical encouragement inspires others with renewed courage, spirit, and hope and affirms individuals for who they are rather than what they do and knows the value of graciously spoken words (Proverbs 25:11).  Realizing that encouragement does not thrive in a negative atmosphere, she chooses to memorize and meditate upon the portions of God’s Word that can contribute to her words being filled with blessing, graciousness, and sweetness (many of these verses are included in the Scriptures at the conclusion of this chapter).  And, she acknowledges that if gracious speech is not a natural temperament attribute that it will undoubtedly take time for it to become an automatic reflex!

            What type of speech emerges from your lips?  As you multi-task will you purpose to ask your heavenly Father to assist you in learning to speak graciously so that your words are—“like apples of gold in a setting of silver” (Proverbs 25:11)?

As I position the Home Economics Department at The Master's College to prepare our graduates for productive ministry I am reminded of the significant contribution a Home Economist/Family and Consumer Scientist makes to 21st century society.  Since there is a lack of current research addressing this topic by Christians I am conducting a study to discern the perception of Christians about the life skills commonly associated with the management of the home.  Perhaps you are willing to assist in the project. 

There are two ways you can participate:

• Complete the survey by clicking on this link or copy the following link into your browser: 
  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5_2bZtXdA7wAavmfimfqrfRA_3d_3d
  
  
• Forward the link to the appropriate individuals on your e-mail address list.
  
  
• Distribute the survey/survey link to those in your Sunday School class, Bible study, etc.
  • If you are willing to distribute the suvey in your Christican circle, I will reimburse you for the copy charges and postage.  
  • Simply request a reproducible survey and reimbursement form from me (drennis@masters.edu).
    

• Potential book.
  
• Potential articles for Christian periodicals.
• PowerPoint presentations, handouts, and transparencies.
• Lecture materials.
• Seminar presentation materials.

Thank you for considering my request.  I do thank my heavenly Father upon every remembrance of you!

I have had the privilege of having a chapter published in Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace.  It will be released by Moody at the International Christian Retailers’ Show (ICRS) in Denver.  I am looking forward to attending the event.  Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit “Wings,” a safe-house for the victims of domestic abuse in the Chicago area, and “Hands of Hope” whose outreach targets the enormous impact of poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic among women and children in Africa (www. http://margaretmcsweeney.com).

What thoughts fill your mind when the word forgiveness is spoken?  Emotionally is your heart at peace?  Can you say with confidence there is no one that I need to forgive or who needs to forgive me?  Or, do you experience that nudge from the Holy Spirit that reminds you of an unresolved circumstance?  Did you know that failure to forgive can have devastating effects?  From physical illness to spiritual ineptness, choosing not to forgive or seek forgiveness can have far-reaching consequences.

Forgiveness is an action that demonstrates the Multi-tasked Woman’s ability to be flexible and contributes greatly to a heart of contentment.  “Forgiveness [is] a term denoted in the Old Testament by words that mean ‘send away,’  ‘cover,’ ‘remove,’ and ‘wipe away.’  In the New Testament ‘send away’ is used most often; forgiveness is also communicated by words which mean ‘loose’ (Luke 6:37), ‘be gracious to’ (Luke 7:43; 2 Corinthians 2:7), and ‘pass over’ (Romans 3:25).  The Bible records human sinfulness, God’s eagerness to forgive, and frequent calls by the prophets, Jesus, and Jesus’ followers for repentance from sin and return to God.”¹  The Scriptures paint a magnificent word portrait of God’s forgiveness . . .

·  Nehemiah 9:17 portrays God as being “ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abundant in kindness.” 

·  Exodus 34:6-7 compares God’s response to the penitent and impenitent sinner. 

·  The Psalmist offers the imagery that “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). 

·  Isaiah paints God as casting all of the prophet’s sins behind his back (Isaiah 38:17) and as “blotting out the people’s transgressions” (Isaiah 43:25). 

·  The vivid language of Jeremiah 31:34 and Micah 7:19 emphasizes the completeness of God’s forgiveness.  When He forgives, men’s sins are dealt with thoroughly.  God remembers them no more! 

A Multi-tasked Woman seeks to incorporate God’s gracious response and her Lord’s model (Luke 23:34) into her own biblical method for forgiving others, as well as seeking others’ forgiveness—in fact, she develops a “forgiveness formula” based on scriptural principles such as

·         Nehemiah 9:17 –our God is a God of forgiveness.

·         Psalm 86:5 – all who call on the Lord will be forgiven.

·         Matthew 18:22 – forgiveness is to be unlimited.

·         Mark 11:25-26 – forgiveness can be unilateral and unconditional.

·         Luke 17:4 – forgiveness should be granted unendingly.

·         Luke 23:43 – Christ set the example of forgiveness.

·         Colossians 3:13 – I am to forgive as Christ has forgiven me.

The Scripture used to create the “forgiveness formula” confronts her with the immeasurable forgiveness she receives from God.  That forgiveness is to overflow into the lives of those who wrong her.  She focuses on the importance of forgiving others from her heart and the need to work towards reconciliation whenever possible (Matthew 5:23-24).  She acknowledges that it is not God’s plan for her to seek revenge. He reserves that for Himself (Hebrews 10:30); He assists her in refusing to develop a bitter spirit toward those who have wronged her (Hebrews 12:14-16).  Jesus said to His disciples, “Pay attention to yourselves!  If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him”  (Luke 17:3-4).  Since God commands us to forgive others, refusing to do so is an act of direct disobedience against Him.

Equally important to forgiving others is the Multi-tasked Woman’s acknowledgement that at times she will need to seek the forgiveness of those she has wronged.  Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:9-12) demonstrate a common but unbiblical response to sinful behavior . . . blame someone else!  It is her duty to assume personal responsibility for her part in the transgression (James 5:16), seek the Lord’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9), and pursue reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-24) whenever possible.  Phrasing such as, “I was wrong when I (fill in the offense).  Will you forgive me?” allows her to accept personal responsibility without casting blame on the offended person.  Such a response demonstrates her humility and fear of her Lord (Proverbs 8:13).

As this entry draws to a conclusion, may I encourage you to reconsider my opening questions?

·  What thoughts fill your mind when the word forgiveness is spoken? 

·  Emotionally is your heart at peace?

·  Can you say with confidence there is no one that you need to forgive or who needs to forgive you? 

·  Did you experience that nudge from the Holy Spirit that reminds you of an unresolved situation? 

If your answers indicate that something is amiss in any relationship, may I encourage you to do your part in reconciliation?  Choosing to do so may exempt you from the devastating effects that failing to forgive renders.

When I think of the word flexible the visual image of an Olympic gymnast comes to mind—that individual is able to twist and turn seamlessly without effort.  I know, of course, that the maneuvers require a steadfast commitment to the sport, countless hours of practice, and significant self-discipline.  Do you know the spiritual regimen that choosing to embrace spiritual flexibility includes?  For a Multi-tasked Woman it begins with a steadfast commitment to her Lord and her faith (1 Corinthians 15:58) and is, at the same time, flexible with His plan for her life (Jeremiah 29:11-13).  Flexible, by definition, suggests the ability to bend without breaking, a willingness or predisposition to yield; pliable; or adaptable.  It is the quality of being able to adjust to change and the capacity to modify our plans in order to leave room for God’s plans (1 Peter 5:5-6). 

Humility is the underlying character quality that yields a flexible response.  Humility is “a value that directs persons to stay within their inherited social status, specifically by not presuming on others and avoiding even the appearance of lording over another. Humble persons do not threaten or challenge another’s rights, nor do they claim more for themselves than has been duly allotted them in life.  They even stay below or behind their right status.”¹

A Multi-tasked Woman understands that to achieve flexibility she is to humble herself, seek to follow her Lord’s example in Philippians 2:8-9, and declares herself powerless to defend her status.  Such a response, according to Proverbs 3:34 and James 4:10, is praiseworthy before God.  A short poem by Lampertus Gedicke reflects the flexible spirit that the Multi-tasked Woman seeks to achieve:

Just as God leads me I would go;

I would not ask to choose my way;

Content with what He will bestow,

Assured He will not let me stray.

So as He leads, my path I make,

And step by step I gladly take,

A child in Him confiding.²

            The desire to maintain control of a situation frequently causes an inflexible response from the heart of a woman.  Eve began the process in Genesis 3 when she stopped and listened to the serpent . . . it will continue until our Lord Jesus returns (Revelation 22:20).  Principles that help our Multi-tasked Woman gain victory over unacceptable control include:

·         Recognize a controlling spirit is sin and pray for a desire to relinquish control (Romans 6:11-13).

·         Assume responsibility for possessing a controlling spirit rather than blaming God or others (James 1:13-15).

·         Believe that God supplies all needs . . . He does not need our help (Philippians 4:19)!

·         Allow the Word of God to permeate the mind (Colossians 3:16).

·         Focus on doing all to God’s glory (Colossians 3:17).

·         Concentrate on serving others and channeling thoughts, emotions, and energies to accomplish the desires of those in authority (Colossians. 3:22).

·         Demonstrate a willingness to change direction and plans if unexpected circumstances arise (Philippians 4:6-7).

·         Model the biblical examples of women who displayed flexibility . . .Sarah (Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-13; Hebrews 11:11 and 1 Peter 3:6), Ruth (Ruth 1-4), The Jewish Maid (2 Kings 5:1-5, 14-15 and Acts 1:8), Mary (Matthew 1:18-29; Luke 1:26-38, 2:6-14, 17-19, 33-35 and John 19:25-27), Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-20, 24-25 and 39-45), and Anna (Luke 2:22-27a and 36-38).

·         Run the race of faith, following the Lord’s example (Hebrews 12:1-4).

·         Meditate upon the truth taught by “The Tea Cup”—a beautiful illustration of the importance of being flexible in the hands of The Master Potter.

The Tea Cup

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both like antiques, pottery, and especially teacups.  This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, “May we see that? We’ve never seen one quite so beautiful.” As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke. “You don’t understand,” it said. “I haven’t always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, “Let me alone,” but he only smiled. “Not yet.”  “Then I was placed on a spinning wheel,” the teacup said, “And suddenly I was spun around and around and around.”  “Stop it!  I’m getting dizzy!”  I screamed.  But the master only nodded and said, “Not yet.”  Then he put me in the oven.  I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening, and I could read his lips as he shook his head, “Not yet.”  Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool.  “There, that’s better,” I said.  And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag.  “Stop it, stop it!”  I cried.  He only nodded, “Not yet.”  Then suddenly he put me back in the oven, not like the first one.  This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, “Not yet.”  Then I knew there wasn’t any hope.  I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, “Look at yourself.”  And I did.  I said, “That’s not me; that couldn’t be me.  It’s beautiful. I’m beautiful.”   “I want you to remember, then,” he said, “I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you’d have dried up.  I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn’t put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn’t done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have any color in your life. And if I hadn’t put you back in the second oven, you wouldn’t survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began you.”  God knows what he’s doing for all of us. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, so that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.  

As you consider yourself in light of the truth of The Tea Cup where would you place yourself in the molding process—are you . . .

·                     red clay?

·                     being rolled and patted?

·                     in the oven for the first time?

·                     being overcome by fumes?

·                     back in the oven?

·                     ready to give up?

·                     on the shelf?

Whatever your place, as you multi-task, are you willing to embrace flexibility and allow our Lord to mold and make you so that you are eventually a flawless piece of work capable of fulfilling His good, pleasing, and perfect will?  (Isaiah 45:9).

---

NOTES

 

¹Harper’s Bible Dictionary, 1985, s.v. “humility.”

 

²Source unknown.

 

Are you as careful with your spiritual health as your physical health?  I am sure that you know that good physical health is the result of implementing sound health practices just as good spiritual health is the outcome of developing sound spiritual practices.  When we undergo a medical examination four vital statistics are normally discussed—our blood pressure, pulse, weight, and diet.  Did you know our heavenly Father’s spiritual health examination for a Multi-tasked Woman contains the same four essential statistics?  Consider this comparison . . .

The choice to embrace sound spiritual practices allows a Multi-tasked Woman to mature in a number of godly character qualities including:

·         Submission to her Lord (Colossians 3:18).

·         Submission to the authority figures in her life (Colossians 3:22-34; Ephesians 5:22).

·         Respect for her husband (1 Peter 3:1-6).

·         Commitment to loving her family (Titus 2:4).

·         Faithfulness as a friend (Proverbs 17:17).

·         Compassion for those in need (31:20).

·         Care of her household (Titus 2:5).

·         Self-control, kindness, and purity of heart and mind (Titus 2:5).

·         Maintenance of  her body as a precious vessel on loan to her from her heavenly Father

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

The consistent development of these godly character qualities generally produces a heart of contentment in the Multi-tasked Woman—one of the best key health practices that prevents a spiritual heart attack.  Let’s take a moment to diagnose our level of contentment . . .

·         Do others affirm my character (am I worth more than fine jewels)?  (Proverbs 31:10)

·         Do I gain the confidence of my husband or others who consistently observe my actions? (Proverbs 31:11)

·         Do I approach my work eagerly and vigorously?  (Proverbs 31:14,17)

·          Am I hospitable to my children and others? (Proverbs 31:15)

·          Do I practice sound money management? (Proverbs 31:16, 18, 24)

·          Am I willing to share my goods with those who are needy? (Proverbs 31:20)

·          Do I prepare ahead of time for my family's needs?  (Proverbs 31:21)

·          Am I confident and dignified? (Proverbs 31:25)

·         Am I a wise and a good teacher? (Proverbs 31:26)

·          Do I willingly oversee the activities of my household?  (Proverbs 31:27)

·          Have I earned the respect of my family? (Proverbs 31:28)

·         Do I fear the Lord? (Proverbs 31:30)

Well, what was your contentment diagnosis?  Are you in good spiritual health, or are you dangerously close to a spiritual heart attack?  What are the areas that could stand some improvement?  Two attributes—flexibility and forgiveness will greatly contribute to maintaining a healthy spiritual heart.  As we multi-task, let’s consider each, beginning with flexibility.