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Not the Cup I Asked For

"Lord, you're so good. My cup is so full...it's just...it's not the cup I asked for."

That's what I prayed one evening this week. If life is a party, I had asked for a Shirley Temple and received ginger ale. Ginger ale isn't bad, it just isn't what I asked for. 

Maybe you feel the same way. Maybe you asked to live close to your family and you live across the country, or you wanted a career as a plane pilot and you're working as a used car salesmen. It's not bad, it's just not what you asked for. 

When that happens, we have two choices: give thanks for what we have or stew about what we don't have. This week I was frustrated with the hard parts of my story that I have to deal with...like budgeting and taking out the garbage. So, there I am, telling God about all these things I don't really like, and then my phone buzzed with a kind text message from a friend. Just like that, the Lord reminded me that yes, my life is full and kind of overwhelming sometimes, but there is so much good in it. 

I like every job I currently do. I have good friends and I love my family. My home is perfect for me. I am able to do everything that God has put before me. I am well loved by many, many people. The Lord has not only abundantly provided for all my needs, He has also blessed me with so much that is pleasant and lovely. 

My cup is full. Filled to the brim full. Close to overflowing full. 

"Lord, help me see your goodness. Help me see how good you are to me. I'm sorry that I don't always see it. Please forgive me. Thank you for my friends and family, work and home. You are so good to me. I love you. Amen." 


What I'm Reading Lately 

    • The Unquiet Bones. My mom got me started on a series of books by Mel Starr about a surgeon named Hugh of Singleton in medieval England. So far, I've enjoyed the first book more than the second. 
    • Beautiful Beast by Lucy Anne Holland has been a pleasant, easy read. I believe Lucy is a new author and some foreshadowing would have been helpful to understand the nature/breaking of the curse her heroine is under. But overall I enjoyed this. 
    • The Way of the Wild Flower is newly released by Ruth Cho Simons. It's beautiful and I'm slowly working my way through it. 
    • The Westminster Catechism I've been reading this along with my Bible reading in the morning. It is beautiful and deep and grounding. 

What I'm Enjoying Lately 

    • Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner. I know, I know, natural is supposed to be best...but bleach does kill germs and with cold and flue season I'm a huge fan of dead germs. 
    • Steffany Gretzinger's album The Narrow Way. especially the second track "No Turning Back. 
    • Beeswax candles. 
    • Not buying clothes. Okay, I'm not really enjoying that, but I decided in order "not to be mastered by anything" that I wouldn't buy any new clothes till January. I started in the middle of August. It is teaching me about self control.   
    • Wearing mascara. My sister-in-law generally wears mascara and I've been reminded that putting some effort into looking feminine is worthwhile, so I've taken a page from her book and begun applying mascara in the morning too. 
    • Soup for lunch. 



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