July 10
. . . see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. Malachi 3:10
This morning was surely one of overflowing! The weekend ahead we are celebrating an anniversary and birthdays. In preparation, I began cooking early this morning. Baking always has a calming effect on me and gives me an opportunity to think about a lot of things, pray, etc. This morning was different though! It started out that way, but as one batch of breads was baking and I was prepping the other, I decided to go to the basement to check on the laundry. Then, just as I was slowing heading back up the stairs, my smoke detector went off! It was then I realized the house was full of smoke! The breads had spilled over the rim of their pans, all over the oven and were burning to a crisp! As I had filled them, I questioned the amount, but thought they’d be okay. To prepare another pan to hold the additional batter seemed to be too much work so I spread the amount out among all the pans! Well, I was paying for my laziness! After shutting off the oven, I opened the windows to bring in fresh air as quickly as I could and began sorting out the mess. What a job the cleanup was! There was burned and dripping batter everywhere – on the racks, on the bottom of the oven – and everywhere I cleaned, it seemed there was more! What an unnecessary, wasteful disaster! (The birds and squirrels ended up having a party in my back yard though!)
It got me to thinking about this passage in Scripture. The overflowing God showers upon us, is everywhere! It covers all areas, spreading out and sticking to us; there is no getting away from His overflowing blessings! But, are we open to them? They are a gift. Do we accept them graciously, or not even notice? At the same time, I think about how I can be overflowing with thoughts and activity contrary to what God is asking of me and the result is usually one of extra work, some hardship not planned on and even getting burned as a result of my choices.
Remembering how the fresh air pushed out all the smoke in our rooms when I opened the windows, makes it a little easier to envision God opening the windows of heaven for us, and pouring down overflowing blessings that cover our trials and tribulations, lifting us up and filling us with joy. Take a deep breath, relax and enjoy His blessings.
For all the overflowing you place in our lives, we thank you, Lord!
Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson
. . . see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. Malachi 3:10
This morning was surely one of overflowing! The weekend ahead we are celebrating an anniversary and birthdays. In preparation, I began cooking early this morning. Baking always has a calming effect on me and gives me an opportunity to think about a lot of things, pray, etc. This morning was different though! It started out that way, but as one batch of breads was baking and I was prepping the other, I decided to go to the basement to check on the laundry. Then, just as I was slowing heading back up the stairs, my smoke detector went off! It was then I realized the house was full of smoke! The breads had spilled over the rim of their pans, all over the oven and were burning to a crisp! As I had filled them, I questioned the amount, but thought they’d be okay. To prepare another pan to hold the additional batter seemed to be too much work so I spread the amount out among all the pans! Well, I was paying for my laziness! After shutting off the oven, I opened the windows to bring in fresh air as quickly as I could and began sorting out the mess. What a job the cleanup was! There was burned and dripping batter everywhere – on the racks, on the bottom of the oven – and everywhere I cleaned, it seemed there was more! What an unnecessary, wasteful disaster! (The birds and squirrels ended up having a party in my back yard though!)
It got me to thinking about this passage in Scripture. The overflowing God showers upon us, is everywhere! It covers all areas, spreading out and sticking to us; there is no getting away from His overflowing blessings! But, are we open to them? They are a gift. Do we accept them graciously, or not even notice? At the same time, I think about how I can be overflowing with thoughts and activity contrary to what God is asking of me and the result is usually one of extra work, some hardship not planned on and even getting burned as a result of my choices.
Remembering how the fresh air pushed out all the smoke in our rooms when I opened the windows, makes it a little easier to envision God opening the windows of heaven for us, and pouring down overflowing blessings that cover our trials and tribulations, lifting us up and filling us with joy. Take a deep breath, relax and enjoy His blessings.
For all the overflowing you place in our lives, we thank you, Lord!
Copyright© 2014 Kathleen A. Matson