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1 Thessalonians 5:18 – In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (NKJV)
Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (NKJV)
Let me start off with some home truths. First and foremost, I am a klutz. Secondly, I really procrastinate when it comes to making a decision and taking action.
I have been pondering awhile on completing and submitting a meditation to PresbyCan Daily Devotional. Prayerfully, I have sought whether this was a plan that God had for me, since I am far less active than in years gone by, and increasingly deaf, making group activities a real challenge. And so, as so often happens in my life, God pushed me off the cliff this morning, and here we go.
It's a cloudy, cool Saturday morning, and as usual, I was up before the sun. Fine, I thought, after completing my devotions. Let's feed the hungry with some fresh muffins. I whipped up a bowl of batter for blueberry muffins, lined the bake pans, and preheated the oven. Next, the klutz took over. After I had spooned the batter into each muffin cup, in a truly Ellen fashion, somehow, I caught the edge of one of the muffin tins. It made a perfect one-and-a-half gainer through the air and landed face down on the kitchen floor.
With as much care as I could, I turned over the mess. I managed to save one liner of batter but the other five were beyond my salvation. I scooped them up and put them in the trash. Wiping up the mess off the carpet, I kept telling myself, In everything give thanks! Rejoice in the Lord always!
I finished distributing the batter after relining the muffin tins, but the batter was insufficient to fill the cups. Thinking quickly with a prayer for inspiration, I mixed up half a recipe of regular muffins and topped off each one.
Philippians 4:19 – And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (NKJV)
I popped the resulting masterpieces into the oven for a quick bake and went back to cleaning up the kitchen dishes, counter, and floor.
As I did these normal, mindless tasks, I meditated on what godly lesson I was learning in this. The muffin mess reminded me of how messy we can get our own lives when we dash madly at activity or act without putting God first. And yet, I thought, God can take that disaster and turn it around for His glory. Look at the people God used in the Scripture. Like me, many of them were trying to go their own way to avoid the call of God to do a task, or they hesitated because they felt unworthy or incapable. But this is what we read:
Psalm 32:8 – I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. (NKJV)
With God surrounding us, we can accomplish what He has called us to do. So go ahead — take that leap of faith off the cliff: write that study or PresbyCan devotional; volunteer in Church school, Vacation Bible School, nursery, or outreach activity. When God leads you to it, He will see you through it.
Oh, by the way, the messed-up muffins tasted pretty good!
Prayer: Lord God, we thank and praise You for being in the midst of our messes. Thank You for walking with us wherever we go. Guide our feet in Your paths. Help us to hear Your call and Your desire for our direction. Then, Lord, please push us off the cliff of indecision to take action. In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we do pray. Amen.
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Tuesday, October 15, 2024 – In Paris, Ontario — Pray for the fall Alpha series that is running at Paris Community Church, Paris, Ontario, that through this ministry, people may be better connected with one another and take a step closer in faith to Jesus.
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So glad you took the plunge!!
Thank you Ellen for sharing this.
Good devotion Ellen. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for meditation today, truly a blessing … and guide.
I have days like that too, but thank God they are few. Enjoyed your humor.
Well Ellen I do have a so called mess on the back burner. Maybe I will see if I can salvage some of it!
Thank you, Ellen, for “taking that leap off the cliff” and sending in your devotional.
Every blessing on your day, and yes keep writing.
Good message, Ellen. Taste test please?
Look forward to seeing more of your writing.
Blessings.
Ellen,
Beautifully written devotional. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
(CA)
Not at all sure about the muffins but I think your message was excellent.
I read right through without finding it tedious or off subject.
Thank you.
Thanks for your encouraging words this morning. You are off to a good start. Not only was I encouraged…you also made me begin the day with a smile. Press on in God’s love and strength. Blessings on your day.
Hi Ellen:
I enjoy reading the devotions. Well done!
Welcome to being off the cliff.. there are usually more ahead.
Blessings.
Good Morning,
And thank you for this wonderful devotion this morning. Just exactly what I needed to see and read. God’s timing is always perfect!
And may God continue to bless you.
Dear Ellen, I was laughing so hard when I read your devotional!
I do agree with you heartely, that God can make our “messes” into something, and we give glory to God in everything. Love your Bible references.
Thank you. God bless you.
Good Morning Ellen “Klutz” Channon:
Thank you for a wonderful devotional. I’m sure we’ve all had our klutzy moments. I certainly have. But it’s good to remember, Romans 8:28 is still in the book.
I look forward to reading more great devotionals from you.
HI Ellen!
Whom Jesus LOVES!!!
Thank you for writing to us! I am sure that Robin Ross was glad to see a new by-line and a perfect devotional article.
Be encouraged in all your well-doing.
God used your devotional to speak to me.
I had felt like I was being pushed off a cliff to try a new ministry. I also have some handicaps and am a klutz. I was accepted then I got scared I was wrong but your word was like a word from God.
Thanks for sharing.
(TN.)
If this is your first submission Ellen, you appear to have been caught in mid air when you were pushed off that cliff. We serve a wonderful God, and He won’t let us hit bottom when He does the shoving .He always packs our parachutes when we are willing to jump.
Well done. Keep up the good work.
Blessings!
For a couple of days, I have been praying for an answer. I think you sent that answer. I suppose I am ready to jump off the cliff.
There is a vacancy for the position of Chaplin in my local American Legion post and I have been looking for an answer as to whether I should apply. I have the qualifications.
Thank you and Happy trails,
(Florida, USA)
Oh Ellen, how I enjoyed (laughter is a good medicine!), your message today! Not only was it humourous but powerful in proclaiming Truth. Thank you for encouraging us to take action (with God’s direction). I too am not as ‘active’ as in former years but you have reminded me that ‘God isn’t finished with me yet’ and I can still ‘be His hands, feet and mouth’ as He leads and nudges.
Blessings to you!!!
Dear Ellen,
This devotional was refreshingly unusual.
And full of great scripture verses. And humor.
Keep writing.
I liked: “When God leads you to it, He will see you through it…
In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we do pray. Amen.
I’m sending as a “Forward’ something forwarded to me.
May God keep blessing you mightily.
Good morning Ellen.
Your devotion this morning was meant for me I am sure. I am doing the crafts for a large VBS and I always second guess myself. Am I ready? Can I really do this? I am getting too old for this. But after reading the devotion I know that God has led me to this and I know He will see me through it. There will be some disasters I am sure… there always are, but nothing that can’t be fixed, and sending the kids off with a smile and God’s love in their hearts is all I really need to see.
I love to read about people like you so keep up the good work. It makes me feel that I can do something too even though I am older and not as sharp as I used to be.
Have a wonderful day with all your muffins right side up!
Thank you, Ellen, I enjoyed your story, It is well told.
Thank you Ellen for your beautiful testimony of loving faithfulness.
Father, JehovaRapha, please shine your healing Glory on Ellen, and bless her with perfect hearing in both ears. … (Prov. 4: 20-22)
Thank You Lord.
Many Blessings.