Godly Gals ~ Brenda Mashburn
This past winter was brutal in Trussville, Alabama, my home town. We had record snow fall and consistently freezing temperatures. As in the past winters, I left my clay pots outside not realizing the weather conditions would damage them. Now that spring has arrived, I have begun to gather these clay pots to fill with beautiful flowers! To my chagrin, the majority of them are either peeling, cracked, or broken. Now some of them are patchable, some will need to be turned so only the good side is seen and others will need to be discarded.
I have to admit there are days when I resemble each of these pots. When God does not choose to meet my daily wants, I begin to peel. I complain, worry and obsess over my unmet needs. Asking God “Why are things not happening the way I planned?” Where are you God? Do you hear me?”
Other days I feel cracked. I always have a mental to-do-list. When that list starts to unravel, I question God’s timing, his involvement and his purpose for my life. I ask God, “Why does life have to be so difficult?
And then….there is days I am broken before I get out of bed. I wake up feeling defeated, hopeless, confused and frustrated. Again I question…“Why God, have you not healed that precious family member or sick friend or healed a broken relationship? “You say in your word, ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find.”
Then He reminds me that He is the potter who has designed all the details of my life. He uses only the finest material to mold me into His image. He never stops thinking about me, always loves me unconditionally and never makes a mistake.
With all my kicking, screaming, whining and pity parties, God has continued to patch me up, fill the cracks in my spiritual life and show me what needs to be discarded in my daily walk with him. Only then is he able to redesign, refocus, redirect and renew me. God is always good even when we don’t notice or when we TOTALLY don’t get it!
My sustaining hope and peace comes from these, my favorite verses:
I will provide their needs before they ask; I will help them while they are still asking for help. Isaiah 65:24
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
Brenda is the wife of her very best friend, Terry. They have been married 43 years. She has 3 wonderful children, 3 incredible children-in-love and 6 awesome grandchildren. She is a counselor/coach, teacher, and speaker. She loves working in her garden, cooking, for her family and decorating her home. She is passionate about spending time with her family and grandchildren. But for many, she is just Brenda, the OTHER twin.
