Friday, May 1, 2009

"Thank you for the fleas, God!"

I was talking to the Lord, going over the journey of my life these last few months, and deliberately found myself thanking God for the "fleas" in my life!

Corrie Ten Boom was a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp, when she bowed her head and thanked God for the fleas! Why in the world would anyone thank the Lord for fleas? They're pesty, horrible little creatures that bite terribly! Thousands, probably millions of these awful bugs inhabited Corrie's cramped room. Along with the fleas, people were packed into this cell like sardines. Corrie surrendered her life to the Lord to be used no matter where and no matter how. She had Bible studies with the ladies and led many to the Lord. She soon realized God had enabled her to freely preach His word, because He sent fleas. The Nazi guards would not come inside the room with all the fleas. Corrie had feared for her life and her friends lives if she were caught with her Bible, sharing God's word. Because of the fleas, she could lead her Bible studies and bring salvation to those Jews in her cell. She soon realized that the horrid fleas were a blessing from God to do her work as a messenger for Him. So she thanked God for the fleas!:)

I've learned to be careful what I gripe and complain about in my life. When you committed you life to the Lord, you committed for better or for worse. Are we to only allow God to use us if it's flowers and sunshine? Only God knows the end to our trials. I've wondered sometimes if God was really in this trouble I was going through and even said, "This isn't the life I signed up for!" Only to discover that God had many blessings in store at the end of the road.

I've recently been told, "I couldn't live like you do." I probably would've have said the same thing to somebody a year ago....but God has blessed me more than I could count through all the hardship and disappointments He's carried me through over the past year. I'm still living out of a suitcase, I don't have a home address, and my husband is going away for a year when we do get home! But....I thank God for all these "fleas" in my life....because I know as a child of God, everything HE brings my way, can be used to glorify Him in my life and an opportunity to used for Him! I'm unworthy to be used by such a holy, loving, and kind Saviour, so I count it all joy when God allows me to be used as His servant!

The joy you can have while going through the trials in you life is due to the fact that there is always HOPE in Jesus Christ while you are in the valley. You can rest in the fact that God is there when you need Him and He will bring blessings and contentment in it....IF....we come to Him with a humble and thankful heart!!!

3 comments:

HOPE said...

AMEN!!! What a wonderful, heart touching post!

such a joy...to know that the LORD is with us in ALL our trials...

I love this portion about Corrie Ten Boom...makes us definetly think about our uncalled for complaints.

Thank you for the wonderful thoughts for today!

Pam--in America said...

Isn't it wonderful how the Lord gives us the ability to handle what he's given us to do? He is so good to His children :o)

I live IN Jesus said...

Hello Aubrey!
So glad you visited my blog! I don't blog very often, but I READ blogs too often!!! ;) I love this post--and I can relate. The truly devoted to Jesus Christ learn to praise Him for the "fleas" eventually! I know for me it took me a long time(sadly) to get to that place of not instantly complaining about my circumstances or situations, but more often thanking Him for them! I am not perfect at it however! A work in progress, that is me! :)

It sounds like you are going through some very challenging trials, Praise God that they will work patience in you and your life! We, at this moment are waiting for God's timing on the adoption front--sometimes(lots of times!) that is the hardest thing to do! I definetly wish that I could afford to adopt bunches of children, for now we support mission work with the widows and the fatherless, until our time to adopt is upon us!
I look forward to establishing a friendship with you! God bless you and your beautiful family--I will be praying for you!
Sarah T