Your words were found and I ate them,
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; Jeremiah 15:16a NASB
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It may be a new blog look, with a new focus, but some things remain remarkably the same.
The Potter has been shaping and reshaping this Miniature Clay Pot with a tenacious joy, and I keep hoping for the flaws and imperfections to be smoothed out into a lovelier, more appealing version.
You know, one with fewer Marie-Moments.
Fewer moments when I question my sanity and cognitive abilities.
Sigh.
Moments like this morning, when after a long power walk, I returned home, kicked off my slightly-too-tight Sketchers, and pulled open the freezer door. I stood for a moment, letting the coolness chase away some of the sweat that had out-stubborned the Outback’s air conditioner. But I was ravenous. I dug beneath the frozen broccoli, corn, green beans and lima beans, where I had hidden the 3-pound bag of mixed berries and kale. From the refrigerator I snagged the cranberry-pomegranate juice and almond milk. I pulled open a cupboard door, only to have it smack into a corner drawer I apparently hadn’t closed completely. With a pygmy-esque grunt, I used my shoeless foot to shove it closed and grabbed a container of protein powder mix before I dumped ingredients into the jar of my Ninja blender.
At the last minute I opened a packet of Greens on the Go to increase the nutritional benefits. Finally, I added a scoop of Bryer’s natural vanilla ice cream, just to balance out all that healthy goodness. I was practically drooling at the thought of my smoothie bowl topped with vanilla almond granola. I pushed down the lid, turned the monster machine on, and to my dismay heard an unfamiliar hum. I checked to ensure the blender was plugged in. (Yeah, I’ve had those moments too.) It was, but nothing was blending. “Great, I’ve worn it out,” I thought. I tried again. Same result. Then I spied it.
The blade.
Sitting on the dish draining cloth where I’d left it after washing it by hand.
Sigh. No wonder nothing was blending.
I’m not sure what was louder, my stomach’s protest at the delayed gorging or my giggles at the thought of what my sister would say when I shared my most recent Marie Moment. I dumped everything from the jar into a large bowl, secured the blade, and poured the soggy mess back in. Everything melded into a creamy, berry deliciousness within seconds.
Amazing what a difference one set of sharp, rotating blades – or the lack thereof – can do.
I set my berry-colored masterpiece in front of me and opened my Bible for some quiet time.
And it dawned on me, this too was a sharp, cutting tool necessary for my health. Applying the Word to every thought, action, belief, and circumstance gives me the proper perspective. It penetrates through judgments and excuses, pain and joy, death and life, criticism and praise, hope and fear, and it reveals who I am. Without it, I have nothing more than a bunch of happenings and emotions, waiting to be melded and shaped into some semblance of sense.
Yes, Hebrews 4:12 tells me of the power and life that I receive when I allow the Word to cut through to the deep places.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NASB
Power and life that are mine -as long as I don’t leave it sitting on the table, unopened.
Grateful for the joy,
Marie-Ellen with a 🙂
Hey, readers. I’ve had some folks tell me that they have recently searched for my blog and not been able to find it due to the changes. You should be able to find it at A Tenacious Joy (https://marie-ellen.com) Feel free to share this on FB or via e-mail to get the word out. And if you want to be sure to get each post, you can sign up for the e-mails. Thanks for hanging in there!