A Tribute, to a Life Well-Lived

     How does she do it? Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning she walks into the coffee shop, ready to face the day ahead of her. It's still dark outside, the shop is quiet, she might rather be in bed, or in her kitchen making breakfast for her kids. But she does it, with a smile on her face. I think her smile would be best described as joy. But more on this....

     
     You might be wondering who this angel of mercy is. Most folks that frequent the coffee house have met her and know that she comes in these weekday mornings. Her name is Rhonda Shrock. She has blessed me on numerous occasions. I am the sometimes sleepy-eyed, partially awake barista who smiles and gives her a mug for her coffee and a glass of ice water. Once she is settled in her favorite spot, a high table on the platform, I continue to go about my morning tasks. Sometimes, however, I stop in between tasks and just look out across the bar to her table. Sometimes she's folding her hands, eyes shut tight as she gives all her burdens to the One Who won her heart. She's a writer, a columnist with deadlines and a million things she has to do, but this is how she starts her day. She knows the only place her inspiration comes from is God; the only way she can do anything is by the hand of the One Who guides her. 

     
     She is an inspiration in so many ways. I ask again, "How does she do it?" In many ways, Rhonda's  life seems like an easy one. I have entertained thoughts about being a writer someday, and her job seems to be moderately easy. Her articles are generally focused around something God has shown her--someone she talked to or was blessed by, or things that happen with her husband and boys, or  chief and braves as she calls them :) "I could do that," I think to myself. "I could get up early and come to a coffee shop to write."  The more I have grown to know her, however, I see that her life is not as easy as that. She is a busy mother who will face piles of dirty laundry and unwashed dishes when she finishes here. She has a full-time job, besides the work she does for the paper. Her husband owns a business in town, and anyone who has ever owned a business knows how much sacrifice is involved. Not only that, but Rhonda faces trials in life just like everyone else; just like I do. 

   
     So now I am back to asking, "How does she do it?" I long for the joy and peace she seems to have so readily. I long to be attentive to the Spirit the way she is. And then it hits me. Of course I know   how she does it--how she has joy--I just witnessed it. She has God! And she has God because she has sought Him,even in the early hours of the morning. God has filled her, and the radiance on her face is not the makeup she quickly brushed on before she got here, it is the presence of God!
   
   Thank you, Rhonda, for being used by God. He used you to point me back to Him. To be lavished with His love and to be reminded how much I need Him.

~Please do not miss your chance to be blessed! Her beautiful website- http://rhondaschrock.com/

Baking is one of my major passions in this life. I love thinking of new ways to make something--a new twist on a cookie, a softer bread, a new reason to put peanut butter in someting. ( peanut butter is an important food group in my mind) I hope to post pictures of delectable sweets that I make, and hopefully inspire you to make something awesome!

Much-Needed Words

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." This verse from Romans 12 really struck me this morning. Humility is not a common theme among popular Christian culture. The message today is that “God’s grace is always enough to cover your sins,” that “Jesus is always beside you,” “God does not judge you, He loves you.” For the most part, these ideas are founded in Biblical principles. The problem, however, is that we find ourselves with a very imbalanced view of God. We want the closeness and fellowship He offers, without the (more difficult) part of serving Him faithfully, doing the things we do not enjoy but He asks us to do. Not that our relationship with God is based on works, or that He is only close to us when we obey Him, He is always with us. But often our pride or sin puts a mask over God and we cannot seem to hear what He has to say. 

Reading further in Romans 12, I came across Scriptures that I had apparently forgotten… “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor evil, cling to what is good. Be kindly affectioned to each other with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another…Giving to the needs of saints and being hospitable. Bless those who persecute you: bless, and curse not…Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits…If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:9-18, paraphrased, highlights) So much simple wisdom and admonition is packed in these verses.  Even though I have known this passage for years, I seem shove them to the back of my mind, and write them off as mere ‘good ideals.’ But where have I gone wrong? The Bible could not say it any clearer! We are not nearly as high as we think we are! In the sight of God, we are nothing, a heap of misery. Or I should say, we are a heap of misery until He fills us up with His goodness.  

This is only one passage of Scripture admonishing us as believers. But I urge you, even as I urge myself, to search the Bible and find out just what God has been trying to tell you. He wants to speak to you, but look for Him in the right place, the not-so-comfortable place, and you will be blessed! 

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.                  Jeremiah 29: 12,13