No Problem

Last week my travels took me to Cleveland, Tennessee. Our family lived there thirty years ago. My husband, Kenn, and I ate at our favorite pizza place—Gondolier’s. The owner responded to our arrival with joy. We’ve stopped there a few times to eat over the years, but I’m always amazed he remembers us.

One visit to this restaurant will always stick with me. Our family of four lined up behind a few others and waited for a table.

The owner asked the first family (in his strong Greek accent), “How many?”

“Four.”

“No problem,” he said.

To the next couple in line he asked, “How many?”

“Two.”

“No problem.”

To my husband he said, “How many?”

Kenn replied, “Four.”

“No problem.”

He seated us and looked to the door toward the next group. “How many?”

“Three.”

He sighed. “Now we gotta problem.”

I’m so thankful God doesn’t say this to us. Instead, He responds with His love and grace. He goes to work on our behalf.

God, I need help with my finances. No problem.

Lord, I need a job. No problem.

Jesus, we need a church where we can grow and serve. No problem.

Father, we need our marriage healed. Does He reply, now we got a problem?

Ephesians 3:20 is one of my favorite verses. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

God can do more than what we ask of Him. He has the power and resources. With His power at work in us (the Holy Spirit) we receive strength, guidance, and determination to work through our problems. With God for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

But what are we required to do? We pray, ask, and trust God will move in our circumstances and do what only He can do. We must put action to our prayers and allow the Holy Spirit to direct our steps. This may mean we need to prepare a budget if our finances are out of whack. Brush up on our skills to find a better job. Visit a few churches and listen to God with our spiritual hearts to know where He wants us to serve. We may need to seek the help of a Christian counselor before we find healing in our relationships.

Are our difficulties problems in the Lord’s eyes?

To us He answers, No problem.

Beauty in Brokenness

“God takes . . . the broken or blemished and restores them to new life and beauty.”

This line is spoken by my main character, Keedryn Reynolds, in my novel, Let Him Go. She asks Blake Conner, her cranky boss, “Have you heard about the Japanese art using gold to repair broken pottery? They restore the broken pieces to an even more beautiful vessel than the original and bring it new life. God does that for us too.”

Keedryn described the Japanese art of Kintsugi which takes broken pieces of pottery and restores them with gold.

God, too, finds beauty in the broken. He turns our flaws and imperfections into a work of art. Ephesians 2:10 says, For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Evidence of His love overflows as we go from brokenness to restoration. We can then pour into the lives of other broken people and comfort them. It’s not about us—it’s about Jesus and serving others. Doing the good things God planned for us long ago.

Near the end of my novel, Blake gives Keedryn a gift. A Kintsugi bowl. He holds it in his hands and says, “After all the pain and heartache, you’re more beautiful to me than before. Your Christ-like love, which I don’t deserve, makes you more valuable and precious than I ever imagined.”

That’s my desire. To become more valuable for God’s work through sharing Christ-like love. To show grace and mercy and to encourage hope.

We grow in faith and learn to trust God more through our brokenness as He heals, restores, and refines us. But He knows where I am going. And when He tests me, I will come out as pure as gold (Job 23:10).

I am becoming gold. Pure gold. I believe that He who began a good work within me will continue His work until it is finally finished (Philippians 1:6).

God's Work Is Worth It

Have you had a verse of Scripture jump out at you when you needed encouragement?

This verse spoke to me this week during my morning quiet time.

Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless (1 Corinthians 15:58b NLT).

This same verse in The Message says, And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.

There’s much involved to get a book published. Writers join critique groups (or in my case start one) to receive constructive feedback from other writers. We attend conferences to learn, grow, and meet with agents or publishers. We write query letters or book proposals. After rejections, we send out more query letters and proposals with the hope someone falls in love with our idea or book. 

In addition, a writer needs a tribe—a following. We blog, post on social media, manage a website, build our email lists, and write newsletters to keep our subscribers informed.

We have a lot to do. Is it worth it?

According to the above Scripture, God says, yes.

Nothing we do for the Lord is useless.

And because I not only write to honor God, but live my life for Him, I believe He is pleased that I am a writer. I want those who read my words to understand who God is and grow in their faith. To encourage them in their brokenness. To inspire them to be their best each day and shine for Jesus. The people whose lives are blessed by my words are worth my time.

To my fellow bloggers, writers, and authors, keep doing what you’re doing. Throw yourselves into the work of the Lord. Your work is not a waste of time. Many people need what you share—faith, hope, and love.

To everyone else, give God your best. Don’t hold back. 

Colossians 3:23 says it this way, Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people (NLT). God’s work is worth it.

Please share a verse of Scripture in the comments section below that brought you encouragement this week.

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God's Creation Makes Me Smile

For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” 1 Corinthians 10:26. I’m in awe of God’s creation and all He has given us to enjoy.

There’s something about trees. I smile when I see twisted branches, varied colors and textures of bark, above-the-ground root systems, and leaves of many sizes and shapes. My favorites include palm, aspen, banyan, maple, and baobab (Africa).

My husband and I vacationed in Florida last week where I enjoyed both palm and banyan trees.

I smiled as sandhill cranes, fox squirrels, and various water birds gripped my attention at Moss Park in Orlando. A white ibis and alligators fascinated me at Trimble Park in Mount Dora.

We visited Skyway Fishing Pier State Park in St. Petersburg where pelicans entertained us. At Myakka River State Park, alligators, birds, and lizards wowed me.

Two stunning sunsets dazzled us on the Gulf Coast: Fort Myers Beach and Sarasota’s Lido Key Beach.

At Lido Key, hundreds of black skimmers, in their protected nesting grounds, barked their call. We watched in amazement as they swooped with opened bills, skimmed along the top of the water, and snatched their prey.

Bayfront Park in Sarasota offered a relaxed setting where we enjoyed the bay, squirrels, lizards, and banyans. 

I smile at the beauty of God’s creation. Which of God’s wonders makes you smile?