Life's Little Frustrations

In winter when it's cold and dreary

I wish for summer, hot and cheery.

In summer am I pleased? I'm not!

I puff and fan and cry, "I'm hot!"

Just Taste

Psa, 34:8a, "Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Have you ever attempted to convince a child that it should taste a food it has never tried before? Have you ever said, "Just try it. You'll like it!?" Have your words of encouragement ever been met by a firm negative shake of the head, lips sealed like locked doors, and teeth meshed together like iron gates? Have you ever failed to persuade said child that trying something new would be a pleasant and rewarding experience?

We so much want to control our own circumstances that we sometimes meet God's efforts to stretch us and cause us to trust Him with that same childish attitude of, " No thanks!" But we never discover how wonderfully trustworthy God is until we step out beyond our abilities into His amazing provision. We may very well be missing some of His best gifts for us by not trying and trusting. Just try it. You'll like it. You really will!

Life's Little Frustrations

Out of the corner of my eye

I see a fly go buzzing by.

I swat him dead; then chortle I

The hand is quicker than the fly!

Family

Psa. 68:6a, "God sets the solitary in families."

It's quite obvious how much babies and little children need families to care for them, nurture them, and help them to grow.

It's not quite as obvious, but God knows that His children need spiritual families to care for them, nurture them, and help them to grow spiritually. That's why God gives us brothers and sisters in Christ. No Christian was ever meant to live the Christian life as a Lone Ranger. Eccles. 4:9-12 makes the fact that we need each other very plain. It says, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

One woman who experienced a tragedy in her life said her church family gathered around her and formed such a tight network of support for her and her family that there was no way they could fall through. The other Christians God has put into our lives are one of His greatest gifts to us.

Father, thank You so much for the love, support, encouragement, exhortation, and sweet fellowship of other members of Your family. How they minister to us! May we likewise minister to them. Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

Summer plans are so much fun--

Swimming, picnics under the sun.

But sometimes these plans are all in vain.

You hear thunder, and then comes the rain!