Blush

Catherine, my two year old grand daughter was "helping" me get ready for church on Sunday and I have an old round compact that is almost empty...that flips on one side with a mirror and the other side with blush. She was very intrigued so I gave her a make up brush and told her that she could put on her make up while I put on mine. And it was a steady stream of "I can't do it...but she kept trying...I can't do it...but she kept trying...I can't do it but she kept trying...and then she would get the mirror side opened but not able to open the blush side and the chant continued.." But it was keeping her busy and somehow frustration had not set in. Then all of the sudden I hear "I DID IT!" And she got up on the chair, looked in the mirror and wiggled the brush atop the blush and feathered her face....like she had been doing it for years....think maybe she has practiced at home.

We too are handed opportunities that are sometimes hard to successfully manage. Sometimes we quit out of frustration, sometimes we continue to persevere in hopes of eventual success and sometimes what we though would be a hard endeavor ends up being quite simple in the end...we just have to begin...and stick with it. And there is something about accomplishment that renews a confidence within us, that shows up in our very presence....beginning in the inside and reflecting on the outside. So many times it is about our attitude towards a given chore or a given set of obstacles that we have to make our way through in order to get to something of value. And attitudes that begin with "I can" are much more liable to be a motivating factor that attitudes that begin with "I can't." We have all participated in the same chant as my 2 year old..."I can't do it.."

It is funny what our minds listen to and how it effects our efforts. Success lies in what we believe and who we believe in. If we say we can...then the mind interprets that as "find a way"...if it says...we can't then the motivation has already taken a hit of defeat. When we allow and believe Jesus to incorporate his realm of possibilities into our minds...and we really do trust that He "can" an will do what he says he "can"....we are immediately filled with a spirit of hope.
It doesn't matter how hard the chore or dream or challenge is before us ....what matters is that we have a "can do" attitude through God's power...and His wisdom to carry it off. If whatever lofty incentive we have is Christ centered...then Christ will use his mighty hand of power to help us achieve our goals.

I don't know what you are struggling with today..but I do know we all have something that needs to be opened and accessed. Sometimes we choose to keep the top on things that seem too hard to rectify...but there is so much healing and help that is available to us if we just have the courage and the perseverance to keep at it....in spite of the difficulty that the challenge has presented. God is a "can do" God...and if we truly believe in His power and in His grace.....we too can embrace that "can do" power of success.

It is a verse that most of you are so familiar with but this day....read it again carefully....absorb the truth and the power that is associated with it and give Jesus a chance to help you as you persevere....Have courage....and have FAITH....that HE will not only help us to be successful in His Godly ventures but he will give us the strength as we are trying and the confidence when we have truly given our best to achieve it. Things don't always work as we would have them work...but we can be sure that if we have asked God to come along side of us....he will help us to advance in success that will bring He and His kingdom glory.

Philippines 4
10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

and I have to add this verse because to me they are sister verses that can not be separated..
Romans 5:2-4
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! Yes you can...through Christ Jesus. Be faithful as he has been faithful...Love as He has loved, Sacrifice as he has sacrificed (our time, our money, our talents...our wills) and KNOW that through Jesus all things are possible. Even those things that we deem in our finite understanding to be
lost and forgotten and in turmoil beyond fixing or forgiving. God is able to do ALL things...give him your hardest claim with a reference to his "can do" proclamation ....and watch as he unfolds a plan that is beyond anything we can imagine.

Don't say "I can't" begin living today with the attitude that "YOU CAN!!"...and hold your head up high and believe it....for this is Jesus' truth that is stated clearly in his WORD. It is His truth for us to accept, to embrace, and to act upon....beginning today!

It was just a simple little worn compact of blush...but she tried and tried and persevered until she got it opened...and then a smile came over her face in contentment through the contentment of her success. may we too know that contentment through what Christ does in our lives.

Dear Lord, There is a constant battle in this world for us to be defeated....for when we are defeated...we become weak, lose confidence and seem to stagger into the next position of challenge. And through each one we have a tendency to get progressively embattled. Help us Jesus to accept your hand of power and victory in our lives. help us to stand firm on the he truths that you have given us...and today help us to approach with confidence that which we have allowed to stay closed and smothered...free us from the discontent and sadness and hurt that dwells underneath and open our hearts to accept the love and adoration that you have for each of us as you lead us. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!

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www.cathyjodeit.com

The blog link below has all devotionals from the beginning of the year:

http://simplygod-cathy.blogspot.com/