Tiny Portions

When I finally accepted the challenge of starting a blog, I had lots of fear mixed with great expectations. I truly believe that I am meant to do this. I have been given the words and platform to “Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is Lord”. I really am not sure what God’s plan for all of this is, but the encouragement I received from many of you prompted me to hope for more opportunities and a bigger platform. I  checked the activity  on my  blog this weekend and learned that 23,000 of you have read some of the things I have been inspired to write about. Although the speaking opportunities and subscribers to my blog have been minimal, I have had a taste of expectations fulfilled.

Back in October, I wrote a post called “Sports Zombies”. It struck a nerve with a lot of people and got re-tweeted and shared 998 times (I would have loved to watch that number roll over to 1K). A national radio program emailed me and suggested I come on their show after the election to talk about the lessons I had learned regarding priorities and parenting athletes. I felt so validated, but the weeks passed by and they never got back in touch. I got to experience a taste of excitement and approval and I hungered for more.

A great taste of something should always make us hungry. Our loving and Heavenly Father has given us gifts and longings. It is just plain wrong to feel guilty for receiving the good gifts He has given us. He knows what He is doing and He has chosen whom to give what gift.

Sometimes, God gives us glimpses and tastes of great things to whet our appetites. He knows when the time is right to deliver the full meal. When a taste is all that is offered, either the meal or the consumer isn’t ready. There may be some things that need to be cleared out of the way, taste buds that need to evolve, or some more marinating to do. The dinner bell will ring at just the right time.

I have been so blessed to get to listen to precious friends who long to be married or have babies. I have been trusted to pray for them and for those of you who feel like you have underutilized gifts and skills. Each time, the person who is longing has already had a taste or received a tiny portion of the great thing they are asking for.

There is every reason to be encouraged. God doesn’t treat your tears and longings with indifference. He cares deeply and has a future planned for you that is full of hope.

God designed marriage and Family and He is glorified in them. He gives good gifts and the opportunities to use them. God is not cruel. It is not in His nature to let the smell and taste of hope waft through your air and then withhold them. God’s ways are higher than our ways. We are limited in our understanding and so we have to trust in what we know to be true. This is how our faith grows.

As we look forward to a new year, savor the taste of the good things you have experienced. Remember the flavor with thankfulness and don’t let your longing for more become sour. There is every reason we should live each day filled with hopefulness. God is the best promise keeper. His blessings and mercies are new every single morning and one day soon, He will return. He is preparing a delicious banquet. One day soon, we won’t be limited by tastes and tiny portions. We will savor His goodness and be filled. Go tell it on the mountain. God is good. He never disappoints. He keeps all His promises. Those who hunger for Him will always be filled.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?  Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!  So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:7-11 (NLT)

 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

 

“In Jerusalem,[a] the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    will spread a wonderful feast
    for all the people of the world.
It will be a delicious banquet
    with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat. There he will remove the cloud of gloom,
    the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever!
    The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.
He will remove forever all insults and mockery
    against his land and people.
    The Lord has spoken! In that day the people will proclaim,
“This is our God!
    We trusted in him, and he saved us!
This is the Lord, in whom we trusted.
    Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!” Isaiah 25:6-9 (NLT)