Last week I got around to doing something I had been planning to do for a couple of weeks. It was my day off, and I went through my jewellery box. I carefully took stock of what I had as I arranged them on a white table cloth.
I put them out in categories and sets. Rings together, bracelets, necklaces, pearls and chunky costume jewellery. I put empty chains together, and then grouped the pieces that would be used on those empty chains.
Once sorted out I wanted another box to put them in to maintain this new sense of order. I found one that was left behind by one of our daughters, cleaned it up and it is now positioned beautifully next to the original box.
As I looked over this array of jewellery I realised that each piece represented someone, something, or some time. Every piece had a treasured memory attached to it. Each piece caused me to fondly remember a time, place or person. It didn't matter if it was expensive or not.
Each piece was treasured because of what or who it represented.
I also thought about the pieces that were not there, or that were damaged. Those pieces also have a treasured memory attached, and I wished I still had them!
There is so much here....
REDISCOVERY
I do love jewellery, and am always looking in the shop windows. Jeff tells me surely I have enough, but I assure him a woman can never have too much! ;) However, as I looked over this assortment that I already have I realised how blessed I am! Contentment is a wonderful thing....
Sometimes we feel as if we are short or lacking. Not quite good enough and so we live with this vague and nagging sense of shame. It cripples us and causes us to become demanding, both to ourselves and the people around us. Philemon verse 6 says, "that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus" Perhaps it is a good thing every now and then to take stock of what is good IN US, giving thanks that it is because of Christ Jesus. It will certainly go a long way to shaking off that vague sense of shame & lack.
Next, this little exercise reminded me of a verse found in Malachi 3:17....
"They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts,
“On the day that I make them My jewels".
Do you know that the Lord wants you to be a part of that day? As each piece of my set of jewellery has a place of value to me, so you do to God.
CLEAN-UP
You might feel like the crown jewels, or you may feel like a piece of cheap costume junk, it makes no difference. God is fully aware of your history, and yet He has a place for you in His personal set of treasure.
You might need a clean up, you may need to be dropped in the cleaning solution or to brushed carefully to get the dirt out. You may need a vigourous rub down with a polishing cloth, but that doesn't indicate rejection, it indicates your value.
Hebrew 12:5-11 (The Message)
So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?
My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline,
but don't be crushed by it either.
It's the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.
God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline,
but don't be crushed by it either.
It's the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.
God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
POSITIONING
I had to find more room, once I had detangled the various pieces.
Do you know that God has plenty of room for you? However, it may involve being moved from 'one box to another'. Rearrangement is never nice. We get used to our spot, our position, our comfort zone. But sometimes in order for our lives to move forward one door closes in order for another to open. Please don't fight against this. It may be painful, it may be unsettling, but don't resist or become bitter when God is making changes that ultimately will be a blessing both for you and for others. It's not rejection, it's just making room for increase!
MISSING PIECES
Are you out of His collection at the moment? I wish I could have those pieces back, but I myself don't have the power to get them back; and because my jewellery pieces are inanimate pieces with no soul or power to DO anything, and I am not God, I probably will never get them back.
But you are different...
You are alive, you have soul, and you have the power of choice. And God is different, He has the power to find you and to draw you back and to help.
Today, I want to encourage you. God has a day circled when He is going to 'make up His jewels', and His wish is that you be part of that. Come back, don't be afraid of the clean-up process or the positioning. Let Him have the pleasure of seeing you there, and let your world have the pleasure of seeing you bright, clean, whole and brilliant for Him.
Till next time,
with love,
Lynda
