• Dirty Rocks + Rock Tumbler = Shiny Gems

    It’s amazing how having kids can open your eyes to so many things, including learning more about yourself, life, and God.  A couple years ago my cousin got the girls a rock tumbler.  They LOVE it and are always on the look out for neat rocks (yes, my girls love rocks).  On numerous trips, hikes, or walking through the yard they can be found collecting various rocks to run through the tumbler.  It is a great activity for kids and can be a neat teaching tool as well.

    The rock tumbling process goes something like this……

    • Find a variety of dirty average looking small rocks
    • Put them through the tumbler to remove all the grit and smooth out the rough edges
    • Polish them

    The whole process takes days and seems forever for the kids, but the end result is something beautiful and well worth the wait.

    Recently, I came across a bag of rocks while I was cleaning.  I had to smile knowing exactly why one of my ziploc bags had been used to stash a handful of ordinary, dull, and plain rocks.  The girls know that even though they look like any old dirty rock once they are tumbled and polished their true colors will shine beautifully.

    As I was standing there looking at those old, dusty rocks it struck me that my heart is much like those sharp and dirty rocks.  There is a lot of junk that needs to be knocked off my heart and life before the beauty of God’s love can shine through.  Thankfully with His help and a tremendous amount of patience on His part He slowly and faithfully cleans the dirt away, smooths out the roughness, and round the sharp edges.  When His love, goodness, mercy, and kindness radiates from my brokenness it opens the doors for opportunities to make a positive eternal impact on the hearts and lives those around us.

    Elenco Rock TumblerAn example of a rock tumbler you can get from Amazon if you are looking for a fun activity to do with your kids!

  • Heart Reflections: Gifts from Above

    A few weeks ago I was speaking to a friend who received a gift anonymously.  As we were talking I mentioned to her that we have been recipients of such gifts in our lives as well.  I can think of several times God used someone in our lives to deliver special gift from above.  During those times I had been praying for something specific and it came through a completely mysterious giver.

    A desire to show appreciation.

    After receiving the gift I would often find myself racking my brain thinking…..who could have given such an amazing gift?  Did they know that I have been praying specifically about this particular item?  Most of the times I never even shared the need with anyone other than God.  In these situations I often find myself really wanting to know who it was that delivered the gift so I could say thank you in person or write a thank you note to them.  I want to express my deep gratitude for what they did and the impact they made on my life.  However, it is during those times that I realize that they don’t want me to know who it was because they didn’t do it for their glory or praise, they did it for God’s glory.   It provides an opportunity for me to give God ALL the glory because only He could have instrumented such an amazing answer to my prayer.  He really does hear our prayers.  Whether you are going through a financial, physical, emotional time or other need, he hears and cares for you.

    Directing my praise to the one who holds my life in his hands.

    What do you do when you receive an mysterious answer to your prayer?  Give all the thanks and credit to God.  He worked through another person to directly answer your prayer.  Glory in the goodness and blessings he continually bestows on us even in the midst of a difficult situation.  We don’t deserve anything yet he longs for us to have a personal and ongoing relationship with him.  Pray for that person who was used by God to meet your need at the time.  You may never know who it was on this side of heaven but there may come a time when they have a need that God allows you to help answer.

     What am I doing to help others?

    On the flip side of the coin how often to I get those nudges from God to help someone or call or write or do something completely anonymous but don’t follow through with it.  God can use you and me to deliver these amazing gifts to others.  The gifts come in all shapes, sizes and varieties from an encouraging note, listening, phone calls, financial, physical help, and so much more (there really is no limit to the width and depth of these gifts).  We may not know what is going on in their hearts and lives.  They may be asking God for something specific or need to hear a word of encouragement and he gives you the opportunity to deliver His gift to them.  I cannot tell you how large of a blessing and encouragement these gifts from God are to people.  When you have a nudge or feel called to do something for someone take a moment and do it.  You may be a tremendous blessing to a specific need that they have in their lives.

    But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

    Matthew 6:3-4

    Photo by JD Hancock