Half Full or Half Empty?

Love it a-latte!

Is that latte up there half full, or half empty?  How ’bout my attitude on any given day?

Oh, Father, make me a glass half-full kinda person….

Someone full of grace, full of mercy, full of hope.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~Romans 15:13

How 'bout you? What do you see when you look at life?

Half full? or Half empty?

Maybe it depends on what’s filling us.

“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Acts 2:28

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Colossians 1:9

Thank you, Father, for your “glass-half-full” perspective.  I want to be like that, so search me and know my heart, try me and know my anxious thoughts and see if there be any hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:23)

Fill me up with Your presence, Father; with Your love, Your joy, Your peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.  I want to be filled with You.  Not partly, not half, but Gloris-all-full of You. (Insert your own name.)  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Chocolate Souffle

I wanted to make a Hot Chocolate Souffle from my fancy cookbook, the one full of recipes from Europe.  I saw the movie, Julie & Julia the other day and felt inspired.

Souffles are complicated.  At least the ones from Europe.  Orange blossom water?  Scharffen Berger chocolate?  Creme Anglaise?

I gave up and made brownies.

Now, Julia Child would have all those ingredients in her cupboard. 

Just like when it comes to trying to whip together a proper attitude when things aren’t going my way, or  when I try to fold together some patience and genuine kindness for my husband and children.  My cupboard is bare.

But Jesus’ is full, and he’s got plenty to share — (that rhymes!   I’ll keep going…)

And He’ll give to me, when I come to Him in prayer! 

Just like my friend was thrilled to give me flowers from her garden the other day, Jesus is thrilled to give good things to us.  We just have to ask.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Luke 11:9-10

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  2 Corinthians 9:8

Jesus’ cupboards are full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  Galatians 5:22   The orange blossom water, you’ll have to get in Europe!

Fields of Faith

 

Rolling Farm Fields of Iowa

“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”  Matthew 9:37

I sighed inside when we left Colorado the other day.  Ahead of us we had miles of flat, boring midwest I thought; nothing as lovely as Pikes Peak.

But as we drove past the beautiful terraced fields of Iowa I had to snap a picture.  So pretty… 

…the repetitive rows, upon rows, spanning the horizon.

That’s how I want to be, I thought — regular like those rows; dependable.  The Bible assures consistent yields for those who are, and not much of a harvest for those who aren’t… 

“Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.”  Proverbs 12:24

“The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” Proverbs 13:4

 ”The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty”  Proverb 21:5  

I want to be diligent to read my Bible everyday, pray “on..all occasions”.  (Ephesians 6:18), regularly, consistently, dependably, like the field rows, so I can yield good fruit ~~

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22

Want more consistency and fruit in your life?  Pray the Harvest Prayer with me:

Oh, Father, You are the Lord of the Harvest.  You’re also a God of order.  Please change my heart.  Make me a consistent person who is diligent to read the Bible and draw near to You.  I want a fruity life.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

 Do you know the “Lord of the Harvest”? Click here for an introduction.