Fetch a Pail of Water

     I just wrote (Blog post "EMPTY") about this passage a few weeks ago as I was studying it on my own and then our Pastor taught on it today! RAD! 

John 2

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

      Jesus respectfully called His earthly mother, "Woman" signifying the shift in focus and ministry.  From her son to her Savior.  Mary's last recorded words in the Bible are beautiful and challenging all at the same time.  "Whatever He says to you, do it."  Often to put action to those words is to be uncomfortable. There was serious work to be done in filling those 6 pots.  Something like 180 gallons of water and at 8 lbs. a gallon they had their work cut out for them.  God didn't have to let them in on the work but if He didn't they wouldn't have been let in on the secret miracle that day either.  By God's grace He enjoys letting us in on His work.  To obey, may require us to do some mondain activities whether we feel like it or not.  Weather we can see the fruit of it swiftly or not!  AH, such a great message!  So the challenge was what is your water pot?  What do you need to do that looks ordinary and uncomfortable to be obedient? 

     I'll tell you what mine is.  Its stopping my agenda all day long and loving my kids.  Even thought I have 2 dishes left and I can be done with them. My pal of water is to stop and lead my child out of an emotional tantrum instead of yelling from across the room "get over it or get a consequence."  Its not being in a self-seeking mode but truly loving my family with out expectation of return.  

     There was a time of prayer after the service and there were wonderful prayers for the families of the fallen and marriage and so on and all I could think was, "I am so SHALLOW, I don't want to carry my pails of water!" 

     So, want to or not I have asked the Lord to help me and well up in me a joy in the "doing it."  I fully expect Him to say yes and empower me for the everyday tasked of being wife and mom. 

     What about you? Is there an ordinary, uncomfortable pal of water that you need to carry?  Is there something you know God is calling to?  I would echo the words of Mary and encourage you and myself today,

SNAP SHOT

 
     I have always loved taking pictures.  I love the digital camera's now and that you can take as many as you want and just delete whatever doesn't capture what you want.  I think most of us keep or post pictures that we like.  You don't often see a wall covered in terrible family pictures or the worst of the bunch.  We pick the best to put on display.  Normal, I do it you do it.  This has been said before but sometimes there is danger with blogs, face book and Instagram media because we see a snap shot in some one's life and assume we have the whole picture.  I bring this up because I am only ever able to share snap shot with you on my blog. There is a whole picture that includes wonderful things and terrible moments that go on in our home. I do strive to be REAL with this blog.  Paul and I are not perfect parents we constantly take comfort in the fact that God is gracious and faithful to redeem the things we are doing to screw our kids up.  Perfection can't be the goal as it is not attainable. Surrendering to and loving the Lord with all your hearts and teaching your kids how to do the same is the goal.  I just wanted to say that before I share a SNAP SHOT of something cool God is doing in our home right now.

Not our best family shot. You may notice there are no children in
 the shot they are there and one is screaming about having to stop
playing to take a picture. The whole family time in the snow
ended right after this as attitudes tanked. 

    I recently attended a woman's conference and the last speaker of the day hit me square between the eyes!  The truth and the way she shared it met me right were I was at.  I walked away strengthened for the life God has called me to.  I got to talk to her for a second.  I had planned on giving her a canvas but ended up with every book she has ever written as she just gave them to me!  One of them is called Beyond Bath Time.  If you are raising kids or want to one day I would encourage you to get and read this baby!  One of the question's she asked was what are you good at? How are you using that with raising your kids and be the mom God has made you to be, or something like that.

     Back to the conference there was a time when they played a song and a gal did the most beautiful sign language to it.  I felt a great stirring in my heart as she was signing...like part of me that was asleep for a long time woke up in inexpressible JOY!  I had forgotten how much I love sign language and that it is one of the few things that comes very naturally for me (also on the list balloon animals).
     My first thought with this awakened part of my heart was, "oh yeah I love that.  Maybe when my kids grow up I can take classes and interpret."  I began to pray about what to do with the incredible desire to sign again.  I say again because I have a brother with downs and was exposed to sign most of my life and learned it for my second language in high school.
     As I prayed and then read that question Erin posed in her book the Lord whispered, "teach your kids."  Maybe even one day they can have a play date with children who can't hear.

     So we got started!  We had already started memorizing 1 Cor. 13:4-8 because that is what Mommy needed to be working on!  We usually memorize scripture and make up hand motions, so this concept wasn't much different.  I got on line and found an great website with short video's of each sign.  Its called signing savvy.  They even have an app for my phone which I hope to purchase one day.  At breakfast each morning we eat and look up the signs for the next chunk of our scripture.  It is so rad how sign is often acting out what you would say with words.  So as I teach the signs I also get to explain the truth and give them ways to remember the sign with biblical backing.  This has brought such depth of conversation and fun into our little world.
   
      God creates each one of us on purpose.  He places in us talents and styles.  I will probably never be the kind of mom that bakes home made goods and delights my children with that wonderful experience on a regular basis.  I am the mom that makes homemade beef jerky to throw in there pockets and go on a hike up the creek!  One is not better than the other. In God's sovereign foreknowledge of what our kids will need invested in them He created us with styles and preferences.

In my natural bent of beef jerky creek Mom

     Having said that there is the other side of the coin.  Being willing to push past our comfort zone for the sake of others. My closest other's in my life right now are kids but this can apply to anyone in your life.  For example one of my dearest friends loves to bake with her girls and would love to do horses with them.  As I mentioned before I don't even think about baking on my own and I did do horses last week with my kids but not because I wanted to or even like horses.  I actually am indifferent about horses and they kind of scare me.

Not so natural Horse Mom

   
     So the challenge and encouragement is this. Is there something God wants you do in your life that is super natural for you and you could serve others with it.  And flip side, is there something you would not choose on your own that you need to be doing to love someone and invest into them.
     I hope you have a wonderful week and the Lord blesses you with many opportunities to love those around you with both sides of the coin.

STONE HER

     I love it when you struggle with something, work it through with the Lord and then He quickly reassures you of the truth on the matter, through His word!  This just happened with me from yesterday to this morning. 
      When I picked my kiddos up from My Mother in Loves house yesterday she was giving me and update on an events in someones life.  I couldn't remember who she was talking about.  So the only point of reference she could think of was a time when this person said something to me and I got so angry and offended.  Mom, couldn't remember what the issue was just that I was so very angry.  BAM!  Like a Mac Truck I was hit with discouragement over who I used to be.  This negative interaction took place like 5 years ago and I felt condemned like it was today!  I did used to get so easily offended which of course is rooted in pride but then when Mom brought it up I was soooooooo embarrassed....Hum?  Also rooted in PRIDE!  I was quiet destroyed over it.  I was so tired from the days events that all I could to was apply what our Pastor had taught on, on Sunday.  "We LEAK so we need to ask continually for the Holy Spirit to fill us!"  I did that laid down on the couch and took a good nap.  I woke up in grace and with my thoughts/heart screwed on strait.  I called my Mother in love and she re enforced the truth that God loves me, five years ago, He loves me now and that I am lovely because of His love for me.  Oh yeah! 
     I know that being slammed with sin of the past can pop up.  It could be sin we have already asked God to cleanse us of.  So how do we handle it?  Do we waste time and energy being embarrassed, or condemned over it?  Or do we remind ourselves of the truth of God's word.  We are all a work in progress that He delights to mold and shape until the day of Christ Jesus?  This morning I just "happened to be" in John 8 and just look at Jesus' heart towards us! 

John 8

Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, ⁴ they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught^[b] in adultery, in the very act. ⁵ Now Moses, in the law, commanded^[c] us that such should be stoned.^[d] But what do You say?”^[e] 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.^[f]

⁷ So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up^[g] and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” ⁸ And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. ⁹ Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience,^[h] went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. ¹⁰ When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her,^[i] “Woman, where are those accusers of yours?^[j] Has no one condemned you?”

¹¹ She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and^[k] sin no more.”

Such GRACE! I choose to walk that out today, how about you?