Sophie has a movie called 'Barbie and the Magic Pegasus'. Princess Annika has to break the spell of Wenlock, an evil wizard who had turned has turned her family to stone. In order to do this, she must acquire pieces to create a wand of light. The 3 pieces needed are a measure of courage, a gem of ice lit by Hope's eternal flame and a ring of love.
At first, it was the last day of her journey that stuck out to me more than the others. Annika and
her friends find Hopes Eternal Flame. It is a giant mountain of ice that seems
to capture a perfect beam of the sun. Inside the mountain lies the gem. The
entrance reads "Beware take only what you need but never from greed."
When the sign is read, stairs appear from within the wall of mountain. Inside
is a sparking cavern of ice. That perfect beam of the sun, shines through the
mountain and Annika must "follow the light" in order to locate the
treasure.
The words "Take only what you need" have been a soft echo in my thoughts lately. I hear them as I try to manage time, overwhelmed with things that I should be doing; I find myself only planning what is needed for that day instead. Yet, somehow also establishing boundaries to protect what I need from the day as well.
"Take only what you need" as I try
to fill a grocery cart and then to stretch the contents once I am home. Trying
not to cry at the register when I realize that my best effort to calculate
still came up short and the money that I hoped would be left over for a bill,
is now filling up a bag instead. Learning that just because I am out of
something, doesn't mean that I need
it. -Then trying to apply that lesson in other areas, outside of the store.
"Take only what you need" as I cling
to hope in prayer; trying to figure out how to only hang onto God, as so many other things that I thought that I
needed fail me. This has been one of the hardest times that have experienced as
an adult. Not just financially but spiritually, and even physically. -Although not in a 'health' sense of that
word. Tests have hammered away and successfully chiseled off what I thought was
part of my identity. The list of "need" is considerably slimming down.
Just as I
think that I am "getting the message" I stumble across "A Mother's Emptiness" by Tony Evans. This sermon was based of 2
Kings 4:1-7 "The Widows Oil".
The meaning of "Take only what you need" is redefined. Take only (from someone else) what you need
(someone to take from you).
While I let that new version take its shape in my mind, I switch
back to the Barbie movie. The whole purpose of Annika's mission was to free
a people. Their freedom was all that she needed. I took a second look at what
she needed to complete this mission and was struck by the irony.
A measure of courage - The courage to have faith in something/someone that we
cannot see. The courage to face ourselves and try a new way to live. - Verse:
A gem of ice lit by Hope's eternal flame - It is the Hope in our
Eternal Flame that drives our purpose to endure and fulfill... When you scale back life, to only what is needed, doesn't it change the things that you treasure and what you fight for? - Verse: This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6:19 - Your anchor or your compass.
A ring of love - A commitment to love everything/one. - Verse:
I know it
seems crazy to think so much about a Barbie movie. -Especially when the author probably wasn't writing around the same theme. Don't we spend our time though, pining away for fairy tales and riches? Yet, even when we have "it all", we still desire something... until we have faith. When we need to move, it's only hope that gets you or your circumstance beyond the curtain. -And Love... Love is as strong as death... I just can't think of anything that needs to be added to that statement.
We are never satisfied until we have those three. It's the combination the three of them that radiate the power of his light and transform not only our heart of stone but the hearts of those around us.
***below is what was added later****
It might seem like those three things aren’t really weapons for battles in the real world. –But I assure you that they are. If you’re struggling with time, be sure to make time first to cultivate your faith. Reading the word and praying sound too simple and so we often skip them. Our father really will give you strength if you just come to him. Get to know him. Call out when you need it. This world will exhaust you with things to do. You will have to fight for physical rest. Fight for time to do the things that you enjoy and for your time with him. Fight the good fight of faith! (1 Timothy 6:12)
Whether it’s a financial matter, your health, a relationship or a job, whatever your battle is, cling to hope in prayer. Our circumstances can change in a blink but God never changes. Romans 15:4 says that whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
The more that you know about God and his promises, the more that you can use them to keep you focused when things go awry. When you fail, refocus on him. Don’t venture off with should’ve, could’ve or more self-defeat. Reclaim his word and try again or simply stand against the current. Hope in him will let us know when it’s time to wait or time to move. But God is your anchor. He will keep you from getting lost in the sea.
We are never satisfied until we have those three. It's the combination the three of them that radiate the power of his light and transform not only our heart of stone but the hearts of those around us.
***below is what was added later****
It might seem like those three things aren’t really weapons for battles in the real world. –But I assure you that they are. If you’re struggling with time, be sure to make time first to cultivate your faith. Reading the word and praying sound too simple and so we often skip them. Our father really will give you strength if you just come to him. Get to know him. Call out when you need it. This world will exhaust you with things to do. You will have to fight for physical rest. Fight for time to do the things that you enjoy and for your time with him. Fight the good fight of faith! (1 Timothy 6:12)
Whether it’s a financial matter, your health, a relationship or a job, whatever your battle is, cling to hope in prayer. Our circumstances can change in a blink but God never changes. Romans 15:4 says that whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
The more that you know about God and his promises, the more that you can use them to keep you focused when things go awry. When you fail, refocus on him. Don’t venture off with should’ve, could’ve or more self-defeat. Reclaim his word and try again or simply stand against the current. Hope in him will let us know when it’s time to wait or time to move. But God is your anchor. He will keep you from getting lost in the sea.
Love sometimes seems the least likely to be realistic weapon
in many battles. Don’t let that little pink heart shaped word mislead you. I’ve
prayed to God to make me love the bible when I couldn’t understand it. (He
answered) –To love prayer when I felt like I had no idea how to reach out. (He
answered) –To love a coworker that I
sincerely felt like I hated (don’t worry, no one at my present organization. BUT
he answered and we became friends). -To love better when I felt like someone
else was mistreating me in a relationship. (He answered). I’ve even prayed to
love my circumstances no matter what is happening around me. The more that we look for things to love, the more that we find things that are loveable. Then the darkness gets dimmer and dimmer.
Sometimes it is really hard in each scenario but remember that he’s faithful and he answers. Then get back up and try again and let the spirit tell you how to act in love. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8)
Whatever mission you are in right now, take only what you need...
Sometimes it is really hard in each scenario but remember that he’s faithful and he answers. Then get back up and try again and let the spirit tell you how to act in love. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8)
Whatever mission you are in right now, take only what you need...
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And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
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