Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

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I Could Use a Little Help Here!

August 20, 2015 by Ellen 16 Comments

Eyebrows knit together, her pudgy four year old hands struggled to use the scissors. Brushing away the long blonde hair that fell over her eyes, she studied the hand tracing she had just finished. She just couldn’t get the scissors to cut it correctly.

Finally, throwing her hands in the air and exhaling loudly, she said:

“I could use a little help here!”

Oh, how I felt her pain! There are some evenings when it seems like everything is piling up: dinner to cook, laundry to fold, making lunch for tomorrow and writing. I plod along trying to get everything done. All I want to do is finish, so I can sit and have a little time to relax. Finally, my frustration bubbles over, and I loudly ask my husband “Could you help me please?”

His response?

“Honey, all you had to do was ask.”

We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Overwhelmed by our situations, drowning in the muck and mire of life. Maybe it isn’t just our day to day circumstances. Perhaps we need help loving the unlovable. We need more energy to pour into others. We’re just limping along, struggling, frustrated, trying to do ministry in our own strength.

ask

We could all use a little help.

Just ask. That’s what Jesus did.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever” John 14:16 (NASB)

Jesus wanted His disciples to know He was not leaving them to flounder around and struggle on their own. He wants us to know that very same thing. Jesus knew there would be times that we would stagger under the weight of our circumstances. He asked His Father to give us a helper. As His followers, we have the Holy Spirit in us (1 Corinthians 3:16).

I don’t know about you, but it isn’t just my day-to-day circumstances that bog me down. There are some days (weeks?) that my prayer time is as dry as the desert sands, and the scriptures I read just seem to float on the surface of my brain, never soaking in.

How about you? How are you doing spiritually? Are you struggling with your prayers? Are you understanding the scriptures? Could you use a little help?

“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” Luke 11:13 (NLT)

Just ask! Jesus did, so can we. Ask God for a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit. Seek to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

You know, we have the Holy Spirit available to us the second we ask Jesus to be Savior of our lives. So why do we need to ask to be filled?

Because we’re human. And sometimes our Spiritual batteries run low. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to be recharged. So we ask God to refill us – again and again, as many times as it takes. It’s a prayer He will gladly answer. We must continually be filled with the Holy Spirit.

When we’re filled, and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, He will strengthen us. He will comfort us, and teach us. And He will help us.

And I think we could all use a little help here, amen?

Until next week,

 

 

Joining these lovely writers. Be sure to visit their pages, you’ll be encouraged!

Suzie Eller, Live Free Thursday

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Kelly at Purposeful Faith

Holly at Testimony Tuesday

Crystal at Intentionally Pursuing the Heart of God

Winter at Words with Winter

Susan at Dance with Jesus

 

 

 

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When You Think You Can Make It

April 9, 2015 by Ellen 36 Comments

“Granny!” He called as he burst through the back door. He spread his arms wide and planted his little feet shoulder width apart, inviting me to look at the wetness running down his pants.

He stood before me in complete surrender, showing me his most embarrassing moment. Knowing I was the only one who could make things better. He didn’t try to hide. He knew he needed help.

“I thought I could make it, but I didn’t.” His voice trailed off, disappointment written all over his young face.

I helped him get cleaned up and tossed his clothes in the washer. He was over it and outside playing again in a flash. I watched as he rode his scooter without a care in the world. My heart ached that he had tried so hard and didn’t quite make it.

“I thought I could make it…”

How many times have I been there? I thought I could make it…

-through the divorce
-through the deaths
-through the trials, the heartaches, the painful times…

I thought I could make it, even when my heart was crying “Lord, I can’t make it without You!” Not without You, Jesus. Not without You. Only You can make things better.

I stand before You, arms spread wide. For You to see into the deepest parts of me, all my embarrassing moments, all my mess. For You to see how I’ve strived on my own, but I didn’t make it. For You to see that I need You…I want You…my soul longs for You.

“As a deer longs for a stream of cool water, so I long for you, O God.” Psalm 42:1 GNT

I spread my arms wide in surrender to You. Not my will, but Yours, Lord. I come boldly before Your throne of grace, knowing that – for all the heartache, all the trying on my own – I have made it. But only by Your blood, Your grace. I have made it, because You died for me.

When think U can Make it

If not for Christ, I would be in the depths of despair. If not for Him, I would perish in hell. If not for His love, there would be no love in me.

How many times have we been there? Thinking we could make it on our own. Thinking we just have to try harder, pray longer, or serve until we drop, so that we can make it. And yet, we all need help.

My grandson taught me a valuable lesson: We can’t make it on our own. Surrender your cares to Christ. He will carry you. The Lord your God will carry you “just as a man carries his son.” (Deuteronomy 1:31)

Jesus, I thought I could make it. I have tried so hard on my own. Today, I spread the arms of my life wide open…for You to see my mess. Because I know You are the only One who can save me. I surrender my will for Yours, Lord. Amen

(Spiritual lessons from a six year old. Who woulda thunk it… The Lord works in mysterious ways, amen?)

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