Stingy for God...Craving God

Do you ever go through times in which you feel "stingy" for God? I don't mean this in a bad way but in a way in which you just can't get enough of His goodness? I especially go through these times after God has done something special to show His grace, His love, His work in my life. Like last Friday. I am still humbled. I wish every day would be like that. Or can it?
I was almost in a "dumpy" spiritual mood, questioning if God's goodness was still as apparent as it was last Friday. I am not sure why except I realized that I wasn't looking at my life through the spiritual eyes He has given me. How easy it is to look away spiritually, if even for a second. But in one of my devotional readings this morning I was reminded of the verses He had given me to claim for this year from Isaiah 61:1-3:

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD'S favor and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Though these verses describe Christ job description, it is the goal of my life this year to become more like Him. I felt Him say to me within these verses at the beginning of this year, "I have called you to minister to the broken hearted, to help them see how the ashes in their life can be beautiful though My grace". I know, I have experienced it fully in my own life. I want to be an oak of righteousness to display His splendor, to be planted for His service and to grow in Him, honoring Him in my words, in ministry, and in my heart. I am more of an introvert than an extrovert so this will require me to step out of my comfort zone. But whatever the cost-Here am I Lord.

Oh what a sweet reminder of what He has called us to do, to share His grace, His love, His Word. As I was reflecting on these verses, He reminded me of the situation Sunday at church in which He placed me in another women's path to minister to her in her pain. Lord I pray my words were Your words and she can see there is hope in You and You alone. Readers, please pray for my friend Vicki and the pain she is in right now. Pray for God's presence to overwhelm her in her loneliness of her failed marriage. Pray for her please.

My scripture reading this morning came from Isaiah 60 and the first few verses in this chapter warmed my heart out of the mood I was trying to fall into: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you". We are called to be Jesus in this world. Whether it is to our husband, our children, or those who cross our path, we are to radiate Jesus. We are to be the light of His grace, His love, His healing, His salvation in this dark, dark, world. And what will that gain us? Read verses 5 "Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy..." His joy! Is He your joy? No matter the circumstances I stand in or am placed in, He is my joy! It continues to be my prayer that I will radiate His graces. It is my prayer that all who read this today will radiate Jesus.

Arise ladies, show forth the goodness of Christ in your life! I challenge everyone, myself included, to be a blessing today, despite everything around us in this dark, dark world!

In His Graces~Pamela