Tag: spiritual

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 5 – The Lining

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

Yay! The hole is all dug out and it’s time to lay the lining! All I have to do is unroll the lining, stretch it out over the hole, and start filling it water. Easy, right? That’s what all the videos show.

With my heart beating just a bit faster with anticipation, I began unrolling the lining. Unflopping it would be a better word. The lining was not rolled. It was folded. As I opened it up, there were multiple fold lines. Folds can be a source of weakness in a lining causing small leaks. The less folds the better. I knew that more fold lines would be created as I tried to mold it around curves in the pond, but to start out with them was a bit disappointing.

After fully unflopping the liner, my husband helped me to carry it over to the hole, which revealed problem number two: how to carry something that heavy above the twig and leaf covered ground. After many false starts, we gave up and just dragged it. Hopefully the lining was stronger than the reviews stated.

Once positioned, I carefully climbed down into the hole as water from the hose began filling it. I pushed and pulled, trying to take out as many folds and wrinkles as possible. It was impossible. But I kept at it until the water reached the lower shelves. I added some rocks to hold the liner in place.

 As I climbed out, I wondered why something that looked so easy on videos had been so hard for me. And then I remembered. In my hurry to get the fish into their new home before the coming freeze, I didn’t follow the helpful hint of letting the liner sit in the sun for a while to soften before trying to manipulate it.

At least the lining was in and the refilling had begun.

As I walked around the pond, I ran into yet another problem. The lining was supposed to cover both the dug out pond and the preformed plastic pond next to it to form one big pond. But in all the positioning, tugging, and pulling, somehow the lining twisted and it no longer covered the small pre-formed pond.

My vision was ruined. There was no going back without draining the pond again. And there was no way to maneuver the lining with the weight of the water laying on it.

After cutting a smaller lining and trying it in every direction possible to cover and link the two ponds together, I gave up. There was no way now to join the two ponds. By this point, I was ready to give up on the whole thing. I wanted to throw things at it or kick it or yell my frustration out at my husband. Instead, I went inside to shed a few tears. And to pray.

In life, how often do we try to accomplish our tasks on our own? Jesus will empower us to do the things He asks of us, but it doesn’t come automatically. We have to abide in Him.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples. John 8:31

Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. John 15:4

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. John 15:9

How do we abide in Jesus? What does that look like? Paul gave some instructions that we can follow.

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:18-21

What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 1 Corinthians 14:15

David is a great model for abiding in God.

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to this excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Psalm 150:1-6

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? Psalm 77:11-13

I will lift up my hands towards your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. Psalm 119:48

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. Psalm 63:5-7

Let’s soak in the Son before attempting big projects in our own strength and reasoning. Certainly the One who accomplished the greatest building project of all time can help us with our own.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 22

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Jesus, protect Sil from the enemy as You work in her. Help her to focus on You, to learn about You in the ways she needs to. Lead her to the Scriptures that will guide her on her walk with You. Whet her appetite for more of You and less of the world. Clarify her vision of what is important – and who is important. And fill her with Your goodness and love.

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices, my flesh also dwells secure…. You make known to me the path of life, in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forever more. Psalm 16:8, 9, 11

I pray that SIL sets You always before her. May she realize that because You are at her right hand, she won’t be shaken. Therefore, may her heart be glad and her whole being rejoice, and may her body dwell secure. Make known to her the path of life so that she may walk it with You. May she experience the fullness of joy that is found in Your presence and find that at Your right hand are pleasures forever more.

In Your Joyous Name,

Amen.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 21

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, I lift up SIL to You tonight as she sleeps. Speak to her in her dreams. Show her the things that she’s resisting in the day so she can open up to Your healing touch in the night. Heal her body so she can focus on the spiritual.

Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2

And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you… Ezekiel 40:4a

Jesus I pray that SIL will look with her eyes and hear with her ears, and set her heart upon all that You show her. And I pray that You help her to realize that she was brought here in order that You might show it to her.

In Your Healing Touch,

Amen.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 20

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Dear Lord, thank You for SIL and what You are doing in her. Thank You for Your promises and for Your desire that all draw near to You. I pray that SIL lets go of what she’s clinging to and cling to You instead.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which cling so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1

Jesus, I pray that You give her the knowledge and grace to lay aside all that hinders her on this race that You set before her.

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:22-24

Lord, God of peace, sanctify SIL completely, and may her whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the day of Your return. You, who call her, are faithful and You will surely do it.

Lord, hold her close and whisper hope to her as she sleeps.

In Your Peace,

Amen.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 19

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, I pray today that You give SIL wisdom and discernment.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. 1 Cor 3:19a

Jesus, reveal to SIL where she is depending on her own wisdom instead of on Yours. I pray that You give her insight to know she needs Your wisdom and will ask for it. And when she does, I pray that You fill her to overflowing so she can begin walking in it. Call her, Lord, out of her head and into Yours.

In Your Wise and Loving Name,

Amen.

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 3 – Tubs

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

I wonder what the fish were thinking as the ground vibrated with each thump of the shovel. The serenity that they had once enjoyed in their crowded home now shattered with unexplained disruptions. Not only that, but the giant shadow that provided food had come more often but no new food ever appeared.

Did the confusion of the fish turn to apprehension as they were chased around the pond with a net in the decreasing amount of water and then deposited into small tubs?  If they were crowded before, they were now packed almost fin to fin. No more swimming laps around the pond. In this new place, they barely have room to swish their tails five times. Not only that, but they are covered by a net to keep them from jumping out and to keep them safe from birds and the neighbor’s cat.

Did they feel their world had been turned upside down?

Do we ever feel like our world has been turned upside down?

There are times we will be confined or put in a place we don’t like. It may feel like life is horrible. Cancer, losing our job, death of a loved one and the destruction of our house in a hurricane are all bad causes of forced changes. But sometimes that turmoil comes from happy events such as a wedding, birth of a child, or high school graduation. In each case, we may feel helpless, out of control, and out of place. Our peace is gone. Our familiar provision is gone. Our home is gone. So what do we do?

Do we jump out of our new circumstances and try to crawl our way back to our old familiar ones? Do we give up and just sink to the bottom in despair? Do we get angry and refuse to eat? Do we try to relieve our angst by attacking other people?

Or do we trust that the God who promised to be with us always is still in control?

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:9 NIV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

Can we say along with Paul…

…for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger. Philippians 4:11b-12

Remember –

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.  Ecclesiastes 3:1

Let us trust our wise and loving Father no matter which season and circumstance we are in.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

A Prayer for SIL, Day 18

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, just like turmoil in a pond can stir up the muck and cloud the water, the turmoil in SIL is clouding the water of her heart and mind, preventing her from seeing and keeping her confused. Lead her to be still, to focus on You, so that the muck will separate from the water and fall to the bottom. Then give her the strength, knowledge, and courage to remove the dirt that she can. And I ask that You remove what she can’t.

Like a muddied spring or polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked. Proverbs 25:26

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10a

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

Jesus, I pray that SIL draws close to You with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with her heart sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and her body washed with pure water. Clean her up, Lord. She is Yours.

In Your Cleansing Name,

Amen.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 17

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Jesus, hold SIL close to You and speak healing and wisdom to her. She feels alone and lonely. Encourage her to reach out to the women around her for friendship.

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest council. Proverbs 27:9

Lord, may SIL find things that will make her heart glad – especially the sweetness of a friend who will speak truthfully and wisely to her. Set women in her path to provide companionship and opportunities for fun and service. For it is in serving that we are blessed.

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and the one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:25

In Your Encouraging Arms,

Amen.

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 2 – Digging

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

The ground was wet and sticky in some places, yet hard and unyielding in other places. I stared at it, panting as I leaned on my shovel. I was used to the sandy soil of where I had spent most of my life, but this red clay was a whole new ball game. Who would have thought digging a hole would be this hard? Or that wet clay sticks to the shovel so tightly? I had been digging for hours, and I was not even halfway done. I wanted to give up. I wanted to walk away. But when I looked at the fish in their outgrown pond, I knew I couldn’t. It would be cruel to leave them as crowded as they are. With a big sigh, I straightened and carefully stepped back into the partially dug out pond extension.

As I dug, Isaiah 29:16 came to mind.

You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?

How difficult are we as God digs to mold us into something He can use?

When we gave our lives to Jesus, we gave Him the authority to make us into His image. Little by little we are shaped.

There are places in our lives where He scrapes away just enough to level us. Our weekly quiet time at the beach is replaced with people who need us, balancing our focus on ourselves with focus on others. A change in our job position requires us to seek Him more fervently, balancing our self-sufficiency with need for His help.

But there are times when He digs deep. It is disappointing when we no longer have the physical ability to do the things we love. It hurts when a close friend suddenly moves away. And it’s confusing when He tells you to get rid of all your dragons, including your favorite book series.

How do we respond? Do we resent and fight the changes? Do we hang on tight to what He is trying to remove? Do we grumble and wish for our old lives like the Israelites did? Do we despair because everything feels like a mess? Or do we trust that He knows what He’s doing and that it’s for our good?

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

As we yield time and time again, we may think the process is unending, but there will come a day when it will be complete.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

After several days of digging, I looked down at the hole I had dug. Looking at it filled me with a mixture of satisfying pride and despair. So much had been done. So much more to do. But for now it was time to rest.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Note: I know I may be using these scriptures slightly out of context, but they are valid. We do tend to complain when God is molding us, He does have good plans for us, He will complete the work He has begun in us, and He does promise us rest in Him. Selah.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 16

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, I lift up SIL to you this night as she sleeps. Fill her dreams with Your presence, Your wisdom, and Your guidance. Show her the things she needs to know. Work in her heart as You work out the circumstances in her life that have brought her to this point. Comfort her, encourage her, and give her hope that things will not always be this way.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might. Ephesians 1:17-19

Father of glory, please give SIL the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of You, having the eyes of her heart enlightened, that she may know what is the hope to which You have called her, what are the riches of Your glorious inheritance, and what is the immeasurable greatness of Your power in her life and heart, according to the working of Your great might.

In Your Mighty Name,

Amen.