Stir It Up, Stir up the Gift In Me

 Have you ever made a pitcher of sweet tea and the sugar wasn't all mixed in? Instead you can see it is still settled at the bottom. Or had a cup of coffee and all the sugar & flavor is still sitting at the bottom of the cup when you take that first sip? Ugh! It is not anything like what you were expecting to taste. 

(Picture from Google.com)

I was talking with someone the other day and they had made their cup of coffee in the morning and left the spoon in the kitchen, but didn't take the first sip until sitting at their desk and in doing so, realized that they had forgotten to stir it. Then they mentioned the verse "Stir up the gift"... well, I keep thinking about that, and it's been a couple of days now.

Here's the verse:

2 Timothy 1: 6 "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands." (NKJV)

In the NLT it says it this way, "This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you."

In the Strong's it is a combination of two words that mean "to re-enkindle; stir up", and it speaks of it like stirring a fire. 

We have a fire place and we have had a wood stove, and I have occasionally added wood to the fire to keep it going, and you see the embers can end up not close to each other, so I would "stir" them, with the tool to get them closer together before adding more wood, and they would put out more heat when close together and cause the new piece(s) of wood to catch the fire adding more warmth/heat. 

This is a good picture of what happens from being a part of a local church. You get together with your church family and together there is a warmth. Together those that may be burning hotter and help the "heat" in others to increase, and we can encourage the "new wood" to burn, too. So, in being with others, if I am stuck, or sick, or discouraged, I can find hope, encouragement, and others can pray for me.

However, I keep thinking about the verse, and the conversation...

Me, being me, I think of preparing a meal, including the beverages.

As I asked in my opening of this- in making sweet tea, I have had the water cool off too much to dissolve the sugar, so even with a lot of stirring it didn't mix in like it does when it's still warm. What happens if I don't get it all mixed? The sweetness is all at the bottom of the pitcher. I've been drinking a lot of water lately, with the sugar-free "flavor" (basically kool aid) in it. If I don't get that all mixed up well, I can end up with a mouth full of the kool aid, and that is not an enjoyable experience, either. Then in meal preparation, or baking. You rarely dump everything in and serve it- even a good salad needs to be tossed, right? And sometimes, the stirring needs to continue to happen, because the items that I am working to incorporate into the whole continue to sink to the bottom of the cup or bowl.

Stirring is to cause an especially light movement, or change of position; to disturb the quiet of, to agitate, to disturb the relative position of the particles or parts of, especially by a continued circular movement; to bring into notice or debate; to rouse to activity, to call forth, to begin to be active.  (Taken from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stir )

"Stir up the gift of God"... stir it up... 

I don't want the gift(s) He's given me, He's put inside of me, to sit at the bottom to be dormant.

I don't want them sitting at the bottom, not adding flavor, or spice, to my life and how I am able to flavor where I go and people I interact with. 

How do I stir up the gifts that are in me? I know that I am not aware of all the gifts He has given me, butI do know some of them. 

How do I stir then up, though?

In drinks I use a spoon. 

When I make a nice add-in for my protein coffee, I use a tool to froth the milk, before I add it. 

When baking, I usually use an electric mixer. 

There are different tools for stirring. Each is used to achieve a different type of texture and result.

In mixing sweetener into a beverage ordered at a restaurant, or the flavoring into my glass of water at home, I use a spoon or my straw to stir it in... the ice in the beverage helps agitate the particles and mix them in, and sometimes it mixes better than others, so I may have to continue to stir as I drink it, because the flavor is better when it is all mixed together.

(Picture taken thekitchenstore.com)

Then I have recently learned how much fun it is to use the tool to froth milk. It is a little tool with a spring on the end of the "beater", that is formed into a tight circle. I love how I can have a very little bit of milk in the cup, and it whips it up to at least twice as much, by aerating it. The tool agitates the liquid and adds air, causing the volume of the liquid to increase. It is fun to watch the milk grow from just using that one tool. Then when I pour the frothed milk in the cup that has the coffee in it, it floats on top of the beverage, because of the air added, and the consistency is much lighter than it was as milk.  

(Picture from Dreamstime.com)

Then another wonderful tool is my electric mixer. When using this, I put the ingredients into the bowl in a certain order mixing them together in a certain order, for a desired outcome. That order is often important when it comes to achieving the desired results. It all gets put into the bowl as separate ingredients, but all mixed together they make the batter, or dough. As long as the recipe is followed, the science of it all works and it turns into the cookies, cake, bread... whatever it is I have put the correct ingredients together to create. 

(Photo from KitchenAid.com)

I want to use the tools He has provided, to stir up the gifts that the Lord has placed in me. 

I want to use the  promises to remind me. 

I will remind myself of His faithfulness- to stir up my faith. 

I will read, and study the Bible to learn about Him and about the gifts He gives and how they can minister to those around me (including speaking to me/to encourage myself). 

I will take steps of faith to share what He shows me, or brings to my heart/mind. 

These are "steps" that exercise the "muscle" of faith. 

Samson's story has come to mind, and in looking at it, this verse stood out.

Judges 13: 25, "And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he lived in Mahaneh-dan, which is located  between the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol." (NLT)

Sometimes I do the stirring, and other times, He initiates the stirring. I want to be in tune, and aware of His stirring. That is a way of His preparing and His communicating. Like his stirring the conversation that started the process of writing these thoughts down, and helping me to find the trail He wanted me to take. Help me to hear His voice, His stirring- like His child would. (John 8:47a; John 10: 5 & 27)

1 John 3: 1 says, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God."

I have worked with children a lot. I am a mother, and a grandmother, and I did in-home day care, and helped my mother do the same. One thing that is common across the board, children learn every day. When they are born, everything is brand new. The baby basically knows how to eat and sleep, and gratefully the Lord helps their lungs to breathe, and their heart to beat... But they are not born knowing what they will be when they are an adult. Babies do not know where their hands and feet, fingers and toes are. Their muscles aren't strong enough to hold up their head. They are not aware of how the mechanics of their arms and legs work to help them roll over, sit up, crawl, and walk- right? These are all things that we have each learned as we have grown. Babies start out on milk to get the nutrition needed to grow, and as they grow they learn the things, and their food/nutrition needs change.

Hebrews 5: 13-14 says, "For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn't know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong." (NLT)

The New King James Version says it like this, "For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

As I grow in my walk, and relationship, with the Lord, I learn more each day. As I grow, I learn what He has given me, and I learn to use it. I learn how to talk, how to walk, and how to use all He put inside of me. I learn the tools He has made available to help me to strengthen those gifts and talents. 

The learning process is clumsy, clunky, and messy. As babies learn to move, it is not something that they get instantly right. As toddlers learn to walk, they occasionally trip and/or fall. It is from learning the mechanics, strengthening of the muscles, and learning balance- right? 

It is the same in learning to walk in the spirit. I have to learn the mechanics- learn not only to pray, but also to listen. I also need to learn to use the muscles (gifts and talents), which means I need to use them, and I need to learn the balance in the use of them- balanced on His scale. In using the talents and gifts- it acts like the spoon and it stirs things up to keep them all mixed up together. 

Learning to listen for what the Lord is highlighting in EVERY thing. In simple conversations, while chatting with someone at the grocery store, while watching a movie, as well as while reading the Bible and while sitting at church to hear what the pastor is sharing.

In my walk, in my learning, I want to keep using what I've learned and like with weight training, have the "muscle" grow and be stronger. "By reason of use..." Stirring up the gifts is using them and showing appreciation to the One who gave it.

In my walk, I want to show appreciation for the gift(s) I have received. How do I do that? I put them out on display and/or I use them.

The song by Brandon Lake, Gratitude, has a part that speaks to stirring the gift and using it.

It says: 

"So come on my soul, 

Oh don't you get shy on me

Lift up your song

'Cause you've got a lion inside of your lungs

Get up and praise the Lord"

I want to use my voice, use my keyboard, use all that He has put in me which is the way to stir it up. Stir up the song, stir up the books, stir up the gifting and use it! He has people that need to hear and be blessed and encouraged through the gift in you and in me! 

Father, forgive me for allowing the gifts and talents You have put in me, to lay dormant and settled, getting  stuck under the flow of the daily activities in life. The gifts and talents were given to me to be used for Your glory and honor among those You have put in my life, and when I don't use them, I am not doing all I can to lift You and Your name up. Help me! Father, I want to keep those gifts and talents stirred up, aerated, and blended thoroughly into my daily life, so that it becomes a natural part of the day. I want to clearly hear and see what You are highlighting to me and speak it or share it as You would have me to do. Help me to set any pride aside, knowing that in learning mistakes happen, and to keep on going. Help me to remember I am the vessel that You have filled, and it is the overflow to others that You want to use, as the stirring it up, causes the sloshing and spilling over to those around me. Stir my up, fill me to over flow and use me to bless others as You see fit. Thank you, Father!! Amen.

Thoughts On Waiting- Not Liked, But Necessary and Good

Wait a minute...

You'll have to wait...

It won't happen overnight, but it will happen...

You just need to be patient...

These are all statements that I have used in life, and I know are very true, but when I am the one that has to wait, or work through a situation, or keep walking and not seeing results, it can get frustrating. I actually consider myself to be a fairly patient person, too... however, there are things in my life where the waiting is, and was, not as easy as it was when I first started waiting... LOL

(Pic from Google search)

I have some prayers I have been and still am praying to see answered that have been part of my prayer life for years. I have situations that I want to see breakthrough in, and I am doing all I know to do to get the breakthrough- including praying- and I am still waiting to see the breakthrough. And I know that I am not alone in the waiting process. I am not the only one that has ever prayed for something for years, or worked towards something for days, weeks, months, or even years. Sometimes it feels like things move as slow as the sand falling through an hour glass, right?!?! 

Then, I think about Noah. He has worked and worked with his family to build an huge boat like the Lord asked him to do. The animals come and the family has loaded it with the supplies and they all go in it, the Lord closes the door and they wait. First off, Noah is 600 years old when he and his family go into the ark. But Genesis 7: 10 tells us that seven days after they entered the ark, it started raining... then, it rained for 40 days and nights! I can't imagine that, can you? I do like it when it rains, but 40 days and nights, is a long time. He and his family waited, for the rain to come. They waited for the rain to stop. Then they had to wait for the waters to recede, so they could leave the ark. During the time they were waiting what were they doing? Well, I am sure they were tending to the animals, and doing life on a very unique house boat/ship. Can you imagine how ready they felt to get off that boat, and yet unsure of what it would beg like when they did? EVERYTHING would be different. None of their friends and neighbors would be there anymore. Their neighborhood, their home (tent or dwelling) was gone, the familiar terrain would be different from the sheer force of the flood waters. They waited about a year to be able to exit the boat. Then they were starting things on earth all over again. In the waiting, God was working.

What about Hannah? The story is in 1 Samuel 1. Elkanah had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah had sons and daughters, and Hannah didn't have any... yet. She was the brunt of Peninnah's jokes and hurtful words, but Elkanah loved Hannah. Hannah's cry was to have a child. They would go to the tabernacle to sacrifice and worship, and Elkanah would give her a double portion. While I am sure she appreciated that, it didn't satisfy the deep longing. The hurt drove Hannah to pray... the deep ache in her cried out to the depth of God for an answer. She was desperate for an answer. 

(Image from GoodSalt.com)

She waited, she prayed in the waiting, and it pressed her to promise that if the Lord would give her a child, she would give it back to Him all the days of his life. (1 Samuel 1:11) I recently heard a pastor that said Hannah wanted a child, He wanted a prophet, or something like that. After Hannah's waiting. After she had Samuel and gave him back to the Lord, as she promised; she had three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2: 21) In the waiting, in the breakthrough, there is growth and fruit.

David...

He was a youngster when Samuel came to his father's house to anoint the next king of Israel. He was the youngest of 8 and they didn't even call David to come when they knew the prophet was coming. David was a young man when this happened, not even 20 years old. He was anointed when Saul was still king, and had sons that would (under normal circumstances) be next in line to be king. So, this had to be kept quiet and David and his family had to wait to see how and when it would happen. 

(Photo from Alamy.com)

In the waiting, David takes supplies to his brothers that were with the army. He hears Goliath and proceeds to be the one that takes that giant down, giving victory over the Philistines. He also ministers to Saul, by playing his hard- because Saul was tormented by an evil spirit. David becomes a soldier and fulfills by double what is required for the dowry for Saul's daughter as his wife. Then he has to live on the run and in hiding from Saul to avoid being killed. In all this, he is waiting... and in the waiting, there is worship.

In the waiting, there is learning.

In the waiting, love is growing.

What am I waiting for, you may ask. 

    I am waiting for loved ones to come to Him.

    I am waiting to see loved ones healed by Him.

    I am waiting to see promises He's given to come true.

I am reminded of the song "Do It Again" by Elevation Worship. 

It says this:

"Walking around these walls

I thought by now they'd fall

But You have never failed me yet

Waiting for change to come

Knowing the battle's won

For you have never failed me yet

Your promise still stands

Great is your faithfulness, faithfulness

I'm still in your hands

This is my confidence

You've never failed me yet"

So, while I have promises, and while I have unanswered prayer requests, in the waiting... 

- I will NOT doubt 

- I will continue to pray & listen

- I will worship

- I will expect His promises to come

- I will remember His faithfulness (what he's done before He will do again)

Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?" (NLT)

I am reminded of the disciples as they waited as instructed for the promise Jesus gave. They were in an upper room, praying... waiting... and when the promise came, it came with a wind (refreshing), it came with fire (power) and it took them from where they were into the street so that others were ministered to... The answer brought more than they expected. I have heard some say that the "sound of the mighty rushing wind" was not just a sound, but that it actually rumbled. It was earth shaking. 

In the waiting, I need to remember that just because I can't see it, doesn't mean that He isn't moving. 

In the waiting, I need to remember that just because I don't feel anything, doesn't mean that things are not happening. 

I am learning to trust, more deeply. 

I am learning to abide more closely.

I am learning to listen.

I am learning to rest in the truth of what He said.

In the waiting I may feel discouraged, but that is not abnormal. In the Psalm 42: 5 AND 11, it says the same thing two times. The psalmist says, "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again, my Savior and my God!" (NLT) 

SO, in the waiting, when frustration and discouragement comes, I need to remind myself of the times God has answered my prayers. I need to remind myself of what He has done before, because He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. 

I will shake off the discouragement. 

I will shake off the frustration. 

I will speak truth and faith, and worship as I wait.

Father, thank you! Thank you for the promises I have received. Thank you for the promises I am waiting to see fulfilled. Thank you for all I am learning, and hearing, and seeing in the waiting. Forgive my impatience and my complaining, and help me to remember that You only want the best for me- that includes the timing on answers and fulfillment of promises.

I worship You and trust Your timing in fulfilling all that I am waiting to see come to pass. Help me to be content as I wait. Thank you for your help and Your promises yet to come. Thank you for the reminded that Faithful is not only your track record, it is WHO you ARE. In Your love and faithfulness I can know beyond any shadow of a doubt that You WILL keep the promises You have made.