
Blogs
Unopened Boxes
Thursday, October 7, 2021 by Barbara
Moving Moments #4
It’s finally time to haul the boxes up from the basement… so many boxes! Each one is regarded with a combination of wariness and expectancy. My responses vary from, “Oh, why did I keep this?” to “Ooh, I forgot I had this!”
Placing these items is a task in itself—which cabinet or closet, what shelf or wall, where will it be most accessible? Each box holds possibilities. Some add convenience (my egg cooker), some beauty (collectibles and pictures), and some frustration (I don’t want it but I don’t want to toss it).
Our life is full of unopened boxes—opportunities to discover or rediscover. Some will bless others, some will add joy and beauty and, like my packing boxes, some need to be discarded. Do we approach opportunity with anticipation… or dread? We need to discern God’s purposes for us and ask how He can use us and the gifts He’s given us—gifts we may have denied or been fearful to unpack.
We have dreams and plans. God has purposes and paths. We need discernment and courage. I don’t want it up to me to decide when to step out, ways to grow, what direction to move, who to serve, or where I can be a blessing. God’s ways and thoughts are always above, better, and greater than mine.
Lord,
We want to leave no box unopened.
We want to discard stale dreams and selfish motivations.
We want to discover all you have for us.
Help us throw off our constraints and free us to be all you designed us to be.
For we are God’s handiwork,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Read more about opening our hearts to God’s opportunities in chapter 5 of I Was Broken, Too.
Comments
Faith McGrath From At 10/8/2021 1:48:58 PM
Amen and amen! So very very true.Reply by: Barbara Higby Author
Thanks for your comment, Faith.Previous Posts
Stand… Face the Enemy
Barbara
1/26/2023
Stand… Still
Barbara
1/19/2023
Stand… Armed
Barbara
1/12/2023
Stand… and Stand
Barbara
1/5/2023
Light Pulsating in the New Year
Barbara
12/29/2022
Light Paramount
Barbara
12/22/2022
Light Predominant
Barbara
12/15/2022
Light Present
Barbara
12/8/2022
Light Promised
Barbara
12/1/2022
God’s Hands Bless Us—Now & in Eternity
Barbara
11/23/2022
God’s Hands Bear our Name
Barbara
11/17/2022
God’s Hand Gives Strength
Barbara
11/10/2022
God’s Hands Hold Me
Barbara
11/3/2022
God’s Hand Provides
Barbara
10/27/2022
God’s Hand Creates
Barbara
10/20/2022
God is Good
Barbara
10/13/2022
God's Country
Barbara
10/7/2022
I Love Fall
Barbara
9/29/2022
Be Strong and Courageous—Even when Opposed
Barbara
9/22/2022
Be Strong and Courageous—You’re not Alone
Barbara
9/15/2022
Be Strong and Courageous—and Obey
Barbara
9/8/2022
Be Strong and Courageous—and Lead
Barbara
9/1/2022
I Love Ps
Barbara
8/25/2022
The Poetic Psalms
Barbara
8/18/2022
Parks
Barbara
8/11/2022
Provisions
Barbara
8/4/2022
Pretty Things
Barbara
7/28/2022
Purpose
Barbara
7/21/2022
Places
Barbara
7/14/2022
Places
Barbara
7/14/2022
People
Barbara
7/7/2022
What I Like about Summer
Barbara
6/23/2022
Retirement?
Barbara
6/16/2022
Pause to Ponder your Body
Barbara
6/9/2022
Ponder the River
Barbara
6/2/2022
Ponder God’s Unseen Answers
Barbara
5/26/2022
Pause & Ponder… God
Barbara
5/19/2022
Pause in the Chaos
Barbara
5/12/2022
Pondering about Prayer
Barbara
5/5/2022
Pause to Look Behind You
Barbara
4/28/2022
Pondering Prosperity
Barbara
4/21/2022
I Love Spring
Barbara
3/31/2022
A FULL Heart
Barbara
3/17/2022
Prayer-FULL in 2022
Barbara
3/10/2022
Grace-FULL in 2022
Barbara
2/24/2022
Joy-FULL in 2022
Barbara
2/17/2022
Mercy-FULL in 2022
Barbara
2/10/2022
Hope-FULL in 2022
Barbara
2/3/2022
Mind-FULL in 2022
Barbara
1/27/2022
Peace-FULL in 2022
Barbara
1/20/2022
Thank-FULL in 2022
Barbara
1/13/2022
What Will You Do Better Next Year?
Barbara
12/30/2021
“Do not be afraid.”
Barbara
12/23/2021
“Do not be afraid, Shepherd.”
Barbara
12/16/2021
“Do not be afraid, Joseph.”
Barbara
12/8/2021
“Do not be afraid, Mary.”
Barbara
12/2/2021
Happy Thanksgiving
Barbara
11/25/2021
What delights your senses?
Barbara
11/18/2021
What moves your feet?
Barbara
11/11/2021
What thrills your heart?
Barbara
11/4/2021
Pre-Thanks Giving #1
Barbara
10/28/2021
I Love Fall
Barbara
10/21/2021
Unexpected Delight
Barbara
10/14/2021
Unopened Boxes
Barbara
10/7/2021
Unforeseen Obstacles
Barbara
9/30/2021
Uncomplicated Living
Barbara
9/23/2021
Uncluttered Closets
Barbara
9/16/2021
summeR
Barbara
7/22/2021
summEr
Barbara
7/15/2021
suMMer
Barbara
7/8/2021
sUmmer
Barbara
7/1/2021
S_ummer
Barbara Higby
6/17/2021
I Love Ts
Barbara Higby
6/10/2021
Worship is Endless
Barbara Higby
6/3/2021
Worship is Exclusive
Barbara Higby
5/27/2021
Worship is Elimination
Barbara Higby
5/20/2021
Worship is Expectation
Barbara Higby
5/13/2021
Worship is Engagement
Barbara Higby
5/12/2021
Worship is Entrance
Barbara Higby
4/29/2021
The Afterlife (?)
Barbara Higby
4/15/2021
I Love Spring
Barbara Higby
4/8/2021
Unspoken
Barbara Higby
4/1/2021
Undivided
Barbara Higby
3/25/2021
Undimmed
Barbara Higby
3/18/2021
Unconcealed
Barbara Higby
3/11/2021
Unwrinkled
Barbara Higby
3/4/2021
Uncomplicated
Barbara Higby
2/25/2021
A New Heaven & Earth
Barbara Higby
2/18/2021
A New Command: Love
Barbara Higby
2/11/2021
A New Unity
Barbara Higby
2/4/2021
A New Song
Barbara Higby
1/28/2021
I’m New!
Barbara Higby
1/21/2021
What’s new (beside the year)?
Barbara Higby
1/14/2021
My word for the year
Barbara Higby
1/7/2021
Do you choose a word for the year?
Barbara Higby
1/4/2021
And His name will be… Prince of Peace
Barbara Higby
12/24/2020
And His name will be… Everlasting Father
Barbara Higby
12/18/2020
And His name will be… Mighty God
Barbara Higby
12/10/2020
And His name will be… Wonderful Counselor
Barbara Higby
12/4/2020
Thanks Giving #4
Barbara Higby
11/26/2020
Thanks Giving #3
Barbara Higby
11/20/2020
Thanks Giving #2
Barbara Higby
11/12/2020
Thanks Giving
Barbara Higby
11/5/2020
I Love Fall
Barbara Higby
10/29/2020
Small part, great power: E—Exercise
Barbara Higby
10/22/2020
Small part, great power: U—Utter Wisdom
Barbara Higby
10/15/2020
Small part, great power: G—Glorify God
Barbara Higby
10/8/2020
Small part, great power: N—No negativity
Barbara Higby
10/1/2020
Small part, great power: O—Offer
Barbara Higby
9/24/2020
Small part, great boasts: T
Barbara Higby
9/17/2020
“Diff’rent Strokes”
Barbara Higby
9/3/2020
“Get Smart”
Barbara Higby
8/27/2020
“Father Knows Best”
Barbara Higby
8/20/2020
“The A-Team”
Barbara Higby
8/13/2020
“To Tell the Truth”
Barbara Higby
8/6/2020
“Charles in Charge”
Barbara Higby
7/30/2020
“Gilligan’s Island”
Barbara Higby
7/23/2020
“Happy Days”
Barbara Higby
7/16/2020
I Love Blue
Barbara Higby
7/9/2020
Eternity Unfathomed
Barbara Higby
7/2/2020
Compassion Undeserved
Barbara Higby
6/25/2020
Acceptance Unearned
Barbara Higby
6/18/2020
Rescue Unmerited
Barbara Higby
6/11/2020
Goodness Unmatched
Barbara Higby
6/4/2020