A Pantry for my Soul

... receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:21b ESV

Are you in the midst of a long stretch of life when you feel like you have nothing? Maybe you are a mother of multiple preschoolers; a person in chronic pain; a cancer patient going through chemo; a husband or wife, a son or daughter, a sister or brother grieving the sudden death of your loved one; or maybe a caregiver of some kind. It has been survival day after day. You don't have enough time or energy or mental clarity to replenish your own resources. And yet, somehow you are making it!

Well, I get it! In fact, we are still in the same situation I described a few posts ago: helping our son-in-law and daughter and young family do a military move that has had multiple twists and turns along the way. (See Holes in My Soul). 

So I have been reflecting in the midst of the frae, how God has been my sufficiency in it all. I am making it, despite how tiring and constant and "walking on the edge" it has been. I remember that there's a reservoir, a treasure, a storehouse ... even pantry ... that is HIM and yes, His indwelling Word, the sacred words that have been engrafted into my soul over the years.

It reminds me of a time, shortly after the birth of our first grandson (so eleven years ago), when I had a conversation about motherhood with our daughter Beth. In the midst of that conversation, the Lord brought to mind a verse that was for me an obscure one.  This verse beautifully illustrates the exact point about the engrafted word that I referred to in a previous post.

He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure [storehouse] things new and old." Matthew 13:52 NASB

By way of background, the scribes were the teachers/experts in Scripture truth, who may or may not have had a personal relationship with the God about whom they taught.  But in this verse, Jesus says that if a person knows the Scriptures (like the scribes did) AND becomes His disciple (which means being attached to Him the Teacher, not just His teaching), he will have a reservoir or treasure or storehouse [same Greek word] from which to draw -- new truth added in with known (old) truth, whatever is needed at the time. And all in relationship with Him who is the Truth.

It's kind of like my kitchen cabinet filled with pottery, both old and new.  Because I have that storehouse/ reservoir of pottery, I can go there and pull out some of my new Polish pottery and arrange it on the table to make a beautiful setting with an old blue and white pitcher.

What about YOU, dear child of God? What is the storehouse, the pantry, YOU are drawing from? Is it the Living God revealed in His engrafted Word stored in your inner person?

When you hit those dark or dry or depleted times, trust the indwelling Holy Spirit to take the implanted, engrafted Word and feed you in your barren times (as He can, of course, anytime at all). He loves and cares for you!

And in your times of relative calm, why not spend more time in the Scriptures? Even sign up for a small group Bible study. Fall is a good time to jump in with a group of sisters or brothers and study the Word together. Surely there is a church near you who will welcome you with open arms. If you live in the Dayton area, may I suggest Patterson Park Church, which is strong in Bible teaching for all members of the family. Why not go to this link to explore the possibilities?

I'm praying, as you join me in grabbing hold of our Resource for whatever we may be going through. He is sufficient for our every need. Amen!

...God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge....For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him...  Colossians 2:2b-3,9-10

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2Timothy 3:16-17

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.... If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:4-5,7