One Sweet Onion - Leah Mix

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us." Ephesians 3:20 NASB

“This is the last of my onions, I moaned, and part of it is spoiled.”
My mind raced as I thought of the other things we needed. Last check of our wallets, we had $3 between us. It had to last until Friday—it was only Sunday.

In spite of my depressing thoughts, God counter-balanced them with the sweetest words; Jehovah Jireh, my provider.

I recalled the Israelites wandering in the Sinai Desert for 40 years, never without food or clothes, and their sandals never wore out. Elijah was fed by a raven. And a widow’s oil and flour never ran dry, despite a drought in the land.

Those are truly amazing stories, I thought, but how far can I stretch an onion?

As I cut off the skin and a bad spot, my fears continued. Carefully, I sliced the bare minimum I needed into the pan, and wrapped the rest for another day.

Jehovah Jireh, my provider. The words flashed again.

“Do you remember that I provided the onion in the first place?” His voice spoke softly. “I can and will do it again.”

Suddenly, all the times He had provided our needs supernaturally flooded my mind, strengthening my resolve and faith to trust again.

Like many in this economy, we are buying just what we need and very little else. Was I letting months of bad economical reports limit my reality of what my God could do? He has provided so abundantly in the past. Why was I allowing someone else’s anxieties and fears to cloud my present and my future? Was I resorting to hoarding?

“Do you remember the email you opened yesterday?” God’s voice gently quizzed me.

I thought briefly. “Oh, the one that said our items had sold on Ebay,” I replied.

“That is the one,” He tenderly reminded me. “See, I provided before you asked.”

Silently I thanked Him for this reminder of His constant provision and confessed, Lord, I find myself buying into ‘the American dream’... keep me focused on You.

Taking my remaining onion from the fridge, I added more to the pot. I was confident there was more where that came from. And to me, an onion had never seemed sweeter.

My Jehovah Jireh has fields of them ready to feed His children.

Leah Mix has been married to her wonderful husband, Gary, for 39 years. A transplant from Upstate New York to Florida, Leah experienced culture shock, but now loves her home and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. She found out that when God plants you, He will make you happy blooming there. Leah is the mother of two and grandmother of five. Writing is a new venture for Leah, but has been a dream for years. She is excited about the future because she has found, God is good - all the time. Read Leah's devotions.

Put Some Cleanser On It - Leah Mix

“If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves… But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us… and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9 NIV

I didn’t even have to bring it to my nose to know the dish cloth was no longer useful. But, the more I thought about it, I realized it was! I let it preach to me. My cloth, once clean, odor-free, and untouched by food or beverage had been left in a crumpled heap on the counter. I neglected to rinse it, creating an environment of germs and bacteria. It was useless for cleaning anything. In fact, it would have contaminated anything it touched.

I’ve found myself much like that soiled cloth—spiritually dirty, smelly and unusable to God. Worse yet, I knew it.

“This is where I am spiritually,” I confessed to God. Once cleansed from my sins, washed by the blood of the Lamb, I was useful in His Kingdom. But when I was hurt, I justified becoming a gossip, being defensive and filled with un-forgiveness. If I allowed my present condition to continue, I would contaminate all I touched, just like the rank, germ-filled cloth.

I took my sins and hurts to the One who washed me whiter than bleach. Oh, the joy and sense of peace a good scrubbing brings! I could breathe in the fresh air of Jesus’ forgiveness, sensing a new freedom His love brought me.

Being cleansed is humbling and healing. And, as I left my will, my hurts and my plans in the hands of my Father, the Spirit reminded me this lesson would come again soon. That is just Satan’s way. He likes me dirty and contaminated—useless in the work God has planned for me. But now, I pray my little ten-inch cloth will remind me again of God’s Word, and where to go sooner for a good washing. Because of His grace and forgiveness, I don’t have to remain useless anymore. For one victorious day at Calvary, praise God, Jesus put some cleanser on me.

Leah Mix has been married to her wonderful husband, Gary, for 39 years. A transplant from Upstate New York to Florida, Leah experienced culture shock, but now loves her home and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. She found out that when God plants you, He will make you happy blooming there. Leah is the mother of two and grandmother of five. Writing is a new venture for Leah, but has been a dream for years. She is excited about the future because she has found, God is good - all the time.

The Nameless Thief - Leah Mix

"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Luke 23:42

His name was never mentioned, yet he was notorious.

He left his negative mark on society, yet He was ushered instantly into the Kingdom of Heaven upon his death.

His life has impacted mine countless times, though he’ll never know it.

He died in shame thinking that his life was a waste, I am sure.

Who was He?

He was the one hanging next to Jesus that dark day – He was the thief on the cross.

We often hear of people leaving a legacy, especially presidents and governmental figures. But do we wonder about our own spiritual life enough that we are willing to do something drastic to change it?

For years we’ve heard about two thieves hanging with Jesus that momentous day on Calvary. One continued his lifestyle of rebellion and shame right to the very end. He mocked Jesus for Who He claimed to be. But the thief on the other side of Jesus rebuked him and did something totally unexpected. He recognized Jesus as the blameless Son of God. These few simple words, spoken by a dying man, were about to change him forever. With undeserved love and forgiveness, this self-proclaimed criminal’s complete life history was covered with the blood of Christ flowing from the cross. And immediately, that repentant thief was joined with Jesus, for all eternity. Talk about an impact!

Are you someone who thinks God can’t forgive or love you because of all you have done? Powerful words were spoken that day to the repentant thief. The same is true for you, because we read in Romans 10:13; “anyone who calls on the name of the Lord, will be saved.” Jesus will do something totally miraculous with your life just like He did for that nameless thief. Imagine how surprised he was to die here and wake up in Heaven with Jesus that day? That’s what Jesus can do for you as well.

There were three legacies that day at Golgotha. All left a permanent mark in history. One went to a place of eternal torment, while the other two will fellowship forever in Heaven. Your legacy will be one or the other. Which will it be? You get to choose. I know my Jesus is still in the business of changing lives today. All we have to do is simply come to Him, just as we are and ask.

Leah Mix has been married to her wonderful husband, Gary, for 39 years. A transplant from Upstate New York to Florida, Leah experienced culture shock, but now loves her home and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. She found out that when God plants you, He will make you happy blooming there. Leah is the mother of two and grandmother of five. Writing is a new venture for Leah, but has been a dream for years. She is excited about the future because she has found, God is good - all the time.

Set Aside for a Season - Leah Mix

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Have you ever been in a “holding pattern” in your journey through life? It is emotionally draining to wait, not knowing if or when you will be able to get moving down a normal path again. Did you find it painfully uncomfortable?

This is where I am right now. God has chosen to allow me to “sit out” of any social gatherings, as I have developed a severe reaction to fragrances. I can have a mild form of the sniffles, or a go-to-the-hospital-by-ambulance-episode, that has proven to be life threatening. Needless to say, for this social butterfly and church worker bee, this malady has clipped my wings, drastically. The recent holidays, Thanksgiving through New Years have been a real adjustment, especially sitting out most festive events.

Living in my bubble I call my home, I have had to relearn my use of time. Books and crafts can only fill so many hours, and I have to admit discouragement and doubt try to creep in. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit revealed the truth of His Word again, making it clear this is part of God’s perfect plan for me. It is for this season in my life and it is for my good and His glory.
Isn’t it refreshing when a truth you have heard in the past, seeds itself deep within your spirit and gets you going again on a path, even if the path is only one step at a time. He purposely doesn’t show us more than we need to know. That’s where faith comes in.

If you, like me, are currently going through a “holding pattern,” ask God to reveal His “today plan” to you. You may be surprised at what He’ll have you doing. To be sure, I am.

God will never lay out your whole life’s plan for you to see and then let you walk down a path that is unhindered by obstacles. No, He is much too creative for that. Chances are, you will see your neighbors and others in a whole new way, for it may be them He is using to bring you to Himself. One thing is for certain; you can count on the fact that each day will be a series of faith-filled steps with a promise. “I know the plans I have … to prosper you … to give you a future and a hope.”

Leah Mix has been married to her wonderful husband, Gary, for 39 years. A transplant from Upstate New York to Florida, Leah experienced culture shock, but now loves her home and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. She found out that when God plants you, He will make you happy blooming there. Leah is the mother of two and grandmother of five. Writing is a new venture for Leah, but has been a dream for years. She is excited about the future because she has found, God is good - all the time.

Not Again - Leah Mix

"Not again or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" Romans 2:4 NIV

"Why does God allow bad things to keep happening to our family?" My friend asked this soulful question after her family was devastated by yet another tragedy. Her heart, broken again.

Their eldest son and his wife were traveling a snow-covered road when he hit a patch of ice, spinning them into the path of an oncoming van. Instantly, his wife of 20 some years was ushered into the presence of God. He and the van driver were left fighting for their lives.

This family has known tragedy all too well. One of their five sons and a nephew were hit while riding their bikes in separate accidents. They'd spent months in the hospital and a lifetime recovering. If this wasn't enough, two of their other sons died a month to the day of each other, one in a drowning and the other in an auto accident. They feel the loss as if it were yesterday.

We were very close families as we raised our children together, but this time we were 1200 miles apart. There would be no hugs of support, no sobbing on each others' shoulder. I felt helpless, useless to her and words seemed shallow.

In answer to her question, my husband said, "God may not be punishing anyone because they're bad. We live in a sinful world, where we all make choices, and sad things just happen to good people." Even in its simplicity I'm not sure the truth of this touched her. She was still reeling in shock. All she wanted was a tangible answer to, "why?" Nothing came that seemed to comfort or satisfy her.

Reasoning later, I recalled a teacher pleading with us to avoid forcing God to get our attention, as Jonah did, and I wondered if God was using this painful event to turn a wayward child around. But then I questioned instead, could it be possible that there may be a lost soul watching this group of people as they walk through another "tragedy" testing their faith? And what we call a tragedy just may be an opportunity that God in His sovereignty wants to use to bring someone to Himself. I prayed it would.

I asked myself today, "Would someone be won to Christ while watching me walk through my trials?

Leah Mix has been married to her wonderful husband, Gary, for 39 years. A transplant from Upstate New York to Florida, Leah experienced culture shock, but now loves her home and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. She found out that when God plants you, He will make you happy blooming there. Leah is the mother of two and grandmother of five. Writing is a new venture for Leah, but has been a dream for years. She is excited about the future because she has found, God is good - all the time.