Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

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What a Friend!

October 20, 2022 by Ellen Leave a Comment

It was a comfortable silence. He was looking at something on the iPad, I was reading a book. From time to time we would look up and smile at each other.

After several nights of this, I realized something: We’re not talking. We’re not sharing. I’m not sharing my life with him. My husband. My best friend. I didn’t exclude him on purpose. We had just become very comfortable with each other. Like two old friends sharing a bench.

And that’s a good thing! We’re at home and relaxed with one another. But we also have to be careful not to take things for granted. Not to become TOO comfortable. Ever so slowly a distance can creep in. Our relationship can become three miles wide, and two inches deep. No depth, no substance. Kind of like the relationship I have with 400 of my closest friends on Facebook!

That isn’t the type of connection John and I want with each other. We want depth. To have that, we need to be deliberate in cultivating a stronger, deeper relationship.

I want the same thing with Christ. Deepness. And I need to be intentional about it. If I’m not careful, I can take this very important relationship for granted. I can become too comfortable during my prayer times with Him. This relationship with Christ – above all others – needs to move from shallow to deep. And then deeper still.

And so, just like in my marriage, I began to make adjustments. I began conversations. I tell Him about my day, my deepest feelings gushing out. I read His word, slowly dwelling on passages that speak to me.

I stop and listen to Him. I pour over the scriptures, careful to pause if a verse catches my attention. And then I read the passage again, slowly, letting it sink deep into my heart. And then I ask questions.

“Why, Lord? Why should I care what this scripture says? What does it have to do with me, today, 2,000 years after it was written? Why does this matter? What are You saying, Lord? Is this something I need to apply to my life? Is there a change I need to make?”

I love the questions. But more than that, I love when I sense God’s  answers!

“Ellen, that scripture was written so that you can know the lengths I will go for a relationship with you. So that you know I love you and will pursue you. So that you can share with others how deep my love is for my people.”

Are you intentional about your relationship with Jesus? Are you cultivating the depths of His friendship?

I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
John 15:15 (NLT)

Lord, how thankful I am that You count us as friends, that we can bring anything to You in prayer. Yes, indeed, what a privilege! Thank you for being such a personal God – You listen and hear our prayers. In Jesus powerful name, Amen.

Until next week,

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This post was originally published 1-16-201

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In the Potter’s Hands

October 6, 2022 by Ellen 2 Comments

I was putty in her hands, turning into a wet noodle when she slowly massaged my sore and aching muscles. Oh, how I needed this after the stressful week I’ve had! She picked up my arm and rubbed from shoulder to fingertips. I didn’t resist. I didn’t pull back. I allowed her to move my arms, legs and neck in any direction she wished, in order to do her job. She was a professional masseuse, and knew what she was doing.

Next, she worked on the hard knots in my shoulders, and the stiffness in my neck. Her knuckles kneaded into my skin. Deeper and deeper she pushed, trying to loosen my tight muscles. As uncomfortable as this was, I knew I would be more flexible afterward.

The Lord has been working on me too. Kneading into my strong will, trying to break the knots of resistance I have; the resistance to doing His will. I push against Him, causing stress and tension in my life.

Cease striving, He tells me. Let Me do My work in you. Be flexible…your way is not THE way.

I tend to rush ahead, focused on my “to-do” list, and what I want to accomplish. With my head down, I hurry along, checking things off the list. I have tunnel vision, missing the fine details around me. I can’t even see that life is passing me by in a blur.

“Wherever you are, be all there.” Jim Elliot

Barreling forward, head hanging down so as not to be distracted, I feel the kinks forming in my neck and shoulders. I am tired, working in my own strength. I need to stretch. So I look up.

Looking up to Christ stretches and eases the tension in my body. I relax and allow Him to move me any direction He wishes. I let Him rub out the rough spots in me, molding and shaping me into a better likeness of Him. I surrender to a deeper dependance on Him.

When I am putty in Christ’s hands, He shapes me.

Potters Hands

Day by day, I become more pliable in His hands. When I cease striving, stop working against Christ, He uses me. He allows me to join Him in His work, doing His will. I am what He makes me to be.

“Still, God, you are our Father. We’re the clay and you’re our potter: All of us are what you made us.” Isaiah 64:8 MSG

Lord, may we all be putty in Your hands, moldable into Your likeness, doing Your will. In Jesus name, Amen

Are you letting Christ knead out your resistance?

Until next week,

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This post was originally published 1-9-2015

Do you know Jesus?

Are you struggling to study God’s Word? Click here for help!

 

 

 

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