Megan Byrd

Writer

gifts

Can You See His Provisions?

We tend to refer to different parts of our lives as seasons, linking them to our natural weather seasons. We experience different seasons in our faith, relationships, and as we age. Winter is used to describe experiences that are barren, challenging, or related to dying. Spring represents youth, new life, and growth. Summer is the warm, satisfying, and joyful parts of life. Autumn connotes maturity, decline, and the end of the sweetness of summer.

These descriptions make the spring and summer seasons seem the most desirable. No one wants to experience decline or death. We all yearn for newness, warmth, and joy. And yet, even the Bible tells us that remaining in one season indefinitely is impossible. Ecclesiastes 3 informs us that there’s a time for everything and a season for every experience. There’s a season for birth and a season for death. A season for joy and a season for mourning. A season of keeping and a season of releasing. A season of laughter and a season of crying.

Ecclesiastes indicates that it’s natural to experience highs and lows, joys and sorrows. While we don’t desire to experience the more negative parts of life, it can be comforting to know that these seasons are normal, they come to all of us, and God is with us through every one. God alone knows what we’ll face throughout our lifetimes and can guide us through even the most challenging of circumstances.

We may have a tendency to thank God for our positive experiences but then act like he’s abandoned us when we enter a darker season. God does not delight in our hardships, he allows them and is prepared to walk through them with us. Because God is omniscient, when he created us, he saw our whole lives stretched out before us. He can see the bumps in our roads, and I believe that he makes holy provisions for us when we’re experiencing a struggle. It’s our job to look for them.

This isn’t a case of seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. It’s choosing to believe that God won’t fail us and asking him to show us the good that can come from our difficult circumstances. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28 NIV, emphasis mine). If we’ll seek God’s wisdom especially in trying times, we can redeem the time and deepen our relationship with him.

Read the rest over at The Glorious Table.

The “Big Christmas” Experience

The first Christmas in our new house took place a few days early because we were flying to Idaho to enjoy the holiday with our new niece. My husband and I decided that this was the year of the “Big Christmas”. We outdid ourselves, thinking about all of the things our kids might love to open and then methodically crossing them off the list as we purchased them. The big day came and our tree looked like it belonged to a family of ten, the ground was so crowded with gifts.

The kids were indeed excited as they took in the grandeur of colorful packages surrounding the tree. I admit I felt a little guilty at giving so much to our kids when they were far from lacking in toys as it was, but I figured “Big Christmas” had to happen once right? The kids began opening gifts in anticipation of the treasures that were inside. They were thrilled to open pirate costumes, race cars, books, and Barbies. After a while, present fatigue set it. They had opened about two-thirds of their gifts but were done and wanted to move on to the “playing with gifts” part. That’s when it hit me that we had truly overdone it. I had no idea kids could get tired of opening gifts!

As a parent, I always have the desire to give my kids all of the things they want. I love to see the smiles on their faces when we indulge them. I know it’s not good for them to receive everything they ask for, but there’s a real pull to want to do whatever I can to make them happy.

In the Bible, we are reminded that, as much as we love our kids, we are all loved even more by God, who is the ultimate gift giver. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11) God knows our needs and he knows the best way to meet them. His ways may not be the same as ours, but we can trust that he will faithfully provide for us in a way that is for our greatest good. He is willing to receive our disappointment in not always getting what we want because he sees the greater picture of what we really need.

Unlike my kids, we will never tire of God’s gifts because they are perfect and perfectly timed. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

I’m sure God would love to give us all of our heart’s desires but he knows what the result of that would be – more harm than good. Selfishness, self-centeredness, destruction, stagnation, death. He will not give us things that will lead to our demise because he loves us so much. He may allow us to have some things that turn out to be unpleasant because we do have free will and can sometimes benefit from disappointment or hurt in order to really see God’s goodness in our lives. It has been in my self-made beds of ruination where I have realized how much I need God and how my own desires are not always good or life-giving. I am confident that God’s desires and gifts for us will lead us to the abundant life he promises and we truly desire.

I doubt that we’ll have another “Big Christmas” but I appreciate the lessons learned from the experience.

Have you ever had a “Big Christmas”? How was your experience?

My Birthday Wish

I have some very amazing and talented friends and family! I am awed and inspired by the things they make and do. I know someone who makes amazing things out of polymer clay, from itty bitty doughnut earrings to handheld Pikachus. She also bakes sci-fi themed cookies and other fun goodies. Her most recent amazing display of skill has been in adorable knitted (or crocheted – I don’t know the difference) octopi. She makes it all look so effortless!

Another friend turns windows into art. Several repaint second-hand furniture into beautiful items anyone would want in their own home. Some friends and family have skills with sewing, embroidery, monogramming, and vinyl. Others build wood furniture and create statement walls. Some can make a bare wall beautiful with a mix of frames and art. Some paint, sketch or create word art. Some take beautiful photographs (one talent of which I am both appreciative and envious).

window

I know friends who make jewelry, put together great-looking outfits, and can style hair and makeup like nobody’s business (I have no talent in these areas so I appreciate others’ skill). Some friends create beautiful gardens and flower arrangements, create interesting focal walls, arrange furniture and assemble rooms that are beautiful, welcoming, and functional.

Some friends are great cooks, creating amazing meals and desserts that are appealing to both the eyes and the stomachs.cupcakes

I know people who write beautiful songs that make my heart soar and draw me closer to God. Others craft completely engaging stories or speak beautiful truths that encourage me. Others are poets. I know dancers, singers, actors, and artists.

I love watching people use their abilities and seeing the beautiful end results of their endeavors.  In fact, I have several such things in my house that I love. Every time I look at something whose creator I know personally, I think fondly of them and our relationship. I went on a scouting trip around my house and found more things than I expected that have personal significance and sentimentality for me. It was a fun, sweet trip reminiscing on my relationships.

I would also love to hear about your creative talents or those of your own friends and family. What’s something someone has given you that they created that means a lot to you? What is something that you poured time and love into for someone else? Show a picture if you can! Let’s celebrate the gifts and abilities of those around us!

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