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The Spoken Word- Poems- Words of Encouragement
The Puzzle of Living Life for God |
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When I started to think about how I would share' this downloaded in my Spirit I prayed a lot.
It started with a simple beautiful puzzle from my sister 300 pieces.
The picture intrigued me mostly because it was of colorful birds, and I needed a break from the Christmas activities.
Like all puzzles you need to do separation of the outside border. If the pieces are too small, it takes patience to fit the frame together, but this puzzle had large pieces and in less then two days I finished it then took a photo and wrote a note that I liked how easy and relaxing it was. An praise God all the pieces were there.
When we start our Christian journey, it is like that in a way we are given the picture of what the life as a Christian is until we learn that walking day by day isn't a simple 300-piece puzzle.
I decided to purchase ones that had 1000 pieces and one 750 pieces.
The first 1000 piece one started my mind and spirit to think.
My walk with God is like a puzzle. You don't get all the pieces right away to the completed "walk."
Patience becomes a virtue you get when you decide to complete the puzzle you started in your walk with Him, Some people give up when it gets difficult in their journey with God you know
seeds thrown on rock soil produce nothing.
As I am getting older parts of me get sore and tired, my eyes, shoulders, adn energy can get drained taking what was pleasant into "work mode" you are working out your salvation is okay but some do works to show that they are 'saved' only to find themselves drained and no closer to hearing the voice of God.
I picked up one puzzle that gave me a negative vibe so to speak and although something in me was saying toss it out I went through my frugal list of money spent etc. until in frustration I threw all the pieces back in the box then sighed when I sealed the box. There were too many pieces that would not fit together and instead of my yoke is easy my burden is light I was making myself do it in line of a misguided sense of duty. No joy no victory in that.
I learned a lovely lesson about God and His beauty when I spread 900 pieces of a puzzle over the large working place I created. The frame was bult from the first 100 pieces and the next part was where to begin.
I learned you must separate the pieces in variations of colour parts of the scene to solve the puzzle. In life we learn there are people we must separate ourselves from even though they are still good people, but God was saying you need to come out from then and seek my face, when I did the direction was better and the peace in obeying fills you with encouragement for yourself and the desire to encourage others not to give up.
Sometimes someone will come into the place you are doing the work on your puzzle, and they try to help. They say oh that piece should go here but you know that you have already tried it in that place, and it isn't the right piece. You can be gracious and let them momentarily "help" until they realize they are incorrect. In fact, you prefer if they worked on their own puzzle. (salvation).
Once I listened to someone and although the Holy Spirit told me not to, I tried to make something fit that really wasn't what God wanted. Since I was hungry to be accepted, I gave up really listening to the deeper voice of God. You see in puzzle making a piece may look exactly like it should be and the size is right even some of the colouring but it just does not fit.
You can get angry if you let yourself be pushed in the wrong direction than revert that same anger to God who was telling you all along not that way, my will for you is this harder way. You say to God but so and so is doing it and then you must sit a long time being corrected by the one who owns your very soul an purpose.
Rest is always beneficial to ministers and Monday is the day the enemy really attacks reminding them that the service wasn't so great and often the minister gets down for in the background the enemy lurks to destroy what God did. There can also be someone in the congregation who may have failed to obey the Holy Spirit either out of disobedience or fear that they didn't measure up to use their gifting. It is very important we all pray and seek God through any service we sit in. For a rich anointing to help the minister who even in the pulpit may be under attack.
Sometimes the minister wants to stay on the track he thought he should when the Holy Spirit is directing him in a different way. Fear can arise if you take the risk to step out in obedience. We all need each other in any service.
We try to hurry God along at times instead of taking the pace He desires so we can see the smaller details with Him.
I was making a puzzle and there was one very small piece and when I found it, I was excited because as soon as I set it in place the rest of the puzzle fit before I was lost ready to quit since nothing I tried worked. You see with us we try and try to do it ourselves our way, our plan and leave God out but if you wait you will get the proper directions and less frustration in the race towards that prize in Heaven.
I did a 750 piece puzzle I was helping my husband then went back to doing bookkeeping laundry. I noticed a good many pieces with green grass were missing.I sighed but because I liked the picture, I was determined to finish it.
I thought a lot of what I do not know as I walk the Christian journey with pieces hidden from me but in faith you know you just keep going because we know the outcome whither, we have all the understanding pieces. Just as I accepted that I moved one of the folders on my desk and under it were all the green grass pieces I was excited to see them. They had been hidden from my view, but they were there only needing to be found when I accepted in faith to finish anyway.
Since October 7th and my friends in Israel peacemakers as I know, they had not responded to my emails or letters I stayed awake in prayer a lot. I pleaded daily with God for them & those I knew closer to the battle yet in His goodness three months later a letter came to reassure me my friend and her son were alright.
Staying up in prayer back & forth to the puzzle kept me focused. It amazes me how the human eye can dart across 1000 pieces & put them to shape the beautiful picture. They must be places in the order they were cut by the maker. Often you are looking for one piece to continue the puzzle and are lead in a direction to something else not realizing what we will learn in the seeking and how when found it fitted better than the direction we were trying to go. As we get older our fingers are not so agile to do the smaller pieced one, but we know what it is like to do them we experienced them. I always say these gray hairs cost me something. Wisdom comes through our experiences in waiting the hardest part when you are anxious to hurry your ministry along.
So, we press on the journey towards the mark of the high calling. We must be like Jesus whose eyes were steadfast on his journey to Jerusalem. Even Paul had to set his disciples on their path to what God told him, teaching them through his life of listening to the Holy Spirit. He told some believers to step back even when they prophesied knowing his life would be in danger. as a minister and lay Christian you too must listen to his deep voice and do what He says.
Respect for leadership is essential if you desire to grow in your ministry knowing obedience is better than sacrifice.
The puzzles are put back in their boxes with lessons learned.
Listen to the voice of God through His word and those in authority over you and you will find direction peace and understanding to teach others. Be blessed be renewed and comforted knowing the Holy Spirit will guide you.
by Rev. Ruth Boone 2024
