This morning, I awoke with an increasing awareness of my "to do" list waving back and forth in my mind like a red flag. I tried to be patient. I tried to relax my shoulders and lessen my stress level, but that seemed to only accentuate the fact that I had cut off my alarm and gone back to sleep.
I had so many things to do...so many things I wanted to get done and needed to get done. The tension increased as I dressed for the day, and I found myself getting a little on the irritable side! I knew I was in trouble then...and possibly every one else in the house, too!
Then I heard "that whisper" in my Spirit, almost as loud as if it were audible. That same, familiar, small Voice that calls to me ever so quietly in the morning, called again today:
"Come, sit with Me a while."
I argued: "But I have so many things to do. You know that...right? I slept late, Lord. Now my day is all out of whack. I've just got to get some things done before the kids wake up."
"Come, sit with Me a while." was again the call.
In my many years as a Believer, I'd like to say that I answered that whisper of His immediately every time - that I sat, when He asked me to sit with Him. However, it seems more times than not, I completely ignore the calling to come away with Him, in order to choose to do something far less valuable.
But this morning, I made myself sit. I told Him about my day, and about how I was already out of sorts, and this is what He told me through His Word:
My Beloved spoke, and said to me: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come. And the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs and the vines with the tender grapes. Give a good smell. (I loved that imagery..."Take it in," He said, "Relax. Breathe in the smell of LIFE.") Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away! O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely" (Song of Solomon 2:10-14).
Isn't that cool? I listened and obeyed as He called me to come sit with Him, and THAT'S what He said to me. He didn't chastise me for not coming sooner. He didn't speak words of discipline, because I had gotten stressed. He didn't make me feel guilty for turning off my alarm clock. Instead, He simply told me I was beautiful to Him - that He was calling me, because He wanted to sit with me. He wanted to hear my voice. He wanted to see my face, because I am lovely to Him.
I don't know about you, but that makes my heart melt and yearn for my Savior. That makes me desire to sit with Him all the more. That makes my "to do" list not seem so urgent.
Now, if you are a guy, I am sure the thought of Jesus telling you that you are lovely may not tug at your heart strings as much as it does mine, but you can't tell me that your heart is not warmed by the fact that the God Who created You, wants to "hang out." He wants to be with you. He desires for you to "Come, sit a spell."
It's a beautiful thing - that God could love us SOOO much that He wants to be with US...to listen to US...to see OUR faces.
You know, last night I spent about 2 hours upstairs, wandering back and forth, in between my kids' rooms. The two oldest had been gone for a couple of days on a youth weekend, and I found myself not just missing them, but missing their presence. A part of me was gone. Something just wasn't right without them home.
So, last night when they came in, I couldn't seem to tear myself away from the upstairs rooms. I felt quite silly, interrupting Alex's work-out sessions just to "check in" on his progress, but it had to be done! KK and I would talk and giggle back and forth about things that had happened over the weekend and on occasion, we'd hit a few serious notes.
I enjoyed myself immensely. Being with them again, filled some emptiness in my heart. I was so glad they were home. So glad, in fact, that I seriously, couldn't "leave." I tried. I tried to go back downstairs, but would inevitably find some reason to return. I knew I was doing it, but couldn't help myself.
I wanted to be with them...not to tell them to do something or get something from them...just to be with them...to talk with them...the see their faces.
So, this morning, these verses hit a new nerve in me - one that will not easily forget my Father's desire to be with His child.
And it's not just me, either.
He wants that for you, too. He wants to be with you. He wants to talk with you, as a Father to His child. He thinks you are lovely...or handsome - whichever the case may be!
Listen to His call today and come away with Him. Before the rest of the world comes crashing through your front door. - or if it already has - take a minute and go sit with Him. Meet with Him. He's waiting. He wants to be with you.
After all, He just can't help Himself.
Thank You, Father, for drawing me...for calling me to Yourself, so that I can just be with You. Thank You for relieving the stress of the day and reminding me that the most important thing I have to do on my "to do" list is to come away and sit with You for a little while. Thank you that You desire me. That You love me. That You want to see my face and hear my voice. I love You, Lord. I really do.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
THAT THING
Chocolate...who would have ever thought something sooo downright delectable could be almost devilish at times. I'm not referring to Devil's Food Cake, either. I'm referring to what chocolate does to me...scratch that. I'm referring to what I allow chocolate to do to me!
You see sometimes, when I'm really frustrated and upset, chocolate becomes my comfort.
Now, in defense of my little, dark friend, I have read reports that say chocolate is good for you and that we should all have a little bit every day, but I'm not talking about just a "little chocolate." I'm talking about chocolate consumption on a much grander scale.
I never intend to overindulge. It just happens. Some situation, some struggle, some stress comes into my life, and without thinking, I head to my favorite stash of chocolate chips in the cupboard. Of course, you can't just eat chocolate chips by themselves. That wouldn't be healthy! So, I add in a spoonful of peanut butter to the mix for added protein! But before you know it, I've had at least four spoonfuls of peanut butter, combined with several handfuls of chocolate chips, and my well laid out plans for chocolate chip muffins for breakfast the next morning, fly out the window.
I'm not saying that chocolate chips and peanut butter should be banned from the grocery shelves. They, in and of themselves, are not wrong. However, in my case, they are quite a temptation.
I realize you didn't start reading this article, just so you could read my "chocolate confession." There is a point here.
You see, when I find myself in the kitchen frantically searching for a spoon to dip into the peanut butter and spilling chocolate morsels all over the floor in my haste, I am looking for THAT THING. I am looking for THAT THING to take away the anxiety. I am looking for THAT THING to make me feel better. In essence I am looking for comfort. However, most of the time what I find instead, is a bad taste in my mouth, a regret in my mind, and a few extra bulges on my mid-section.
James 1:14,15 tells us that each one of us is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Let's look at that verse another way...each one of us is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed (I NEED chocolate. I've got to have it. I know I've indulged in the past, but this time will be different. I'll only have a handful of chips.). Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; (just one more spoonful won't hurt. Peanut butter's not bad for me anyway. The ratio is off...I need more chocolate chips to cut the gummy taste of the peanut butter...just one more.) and sin, when it is full-grown, (There, that's better. Actually, I don't feel so good after all. Have I lost my mind! Why did I do that? Why did I eat that many chocolate chips. Now I don't have enough for the muffins in the morning. I'm so stupid. I can't believe I did that again.) brings for death (What! Where did that come from! I didn't weigh that much yesterday!).
See what I mean? Temptation is a trap and a snare. When we give in to it, it never brings forth the comfort and joy that it promises. Instead it only gives us death. Sometimes that death is physical, but it's also emotional, spiritual, you name it. The by-product of giving in to temptation is death. Period.
You might be thinking this chocolate fixation of mine is silly...so silly that it can't be sin - but it is. When I overindulge in something - no matter how insignificant it might seem - I am, in a way, thinking that THAT THING will make me feel better, act better, be better...I am replacing my God with THAT THING. THAT THING is taking His place in my life.
God and God, alone, brings comfort from the craziness and replaces the stress with peace. So, instead of heading for the kitchen, I should be heading for my prayer closet and bowing myself before the best fix of all time!
Your temptation - your desire to be comforted by THAT THING - may be different than mine. It may be abusing alcohol. It may be allowing yourself to blow off steam on another, when you get angry. It may as simple as speaking negatively about another person to make yourself feel better. Whatever the case, THAT THING, when allowed to go unchecked, will bring forth death and affect others around you like you never imagined.
Sounds hopeless, doesn't it? Oh, but it's not!
When you feel yourself slipping away, desiring THAT THING, instead of desiring God - pray. Tell God that you know He is your only comfort. That He, alone, can make this situation better. Memorize I Corinthians 10:13 and repeat it back to yourself for strength: No temptation has overtaken you except such as common to man; but God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Did you get that!?! Did you really read that verse? Did you see the fact that God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear - that you are strong enough to fight THAT THING with His help? Did you also see that the situation is NOT hopeless...that God will provide a way out, if we will but search for it?
That's good news, isn't it...for you and your temptations - and me and my waistline!
Dear Jesus, please help me, when I am being tempted to sin, to remember that You are my comfort....that You want to help me...that my situation is not hopeless...that I have the strength to fight...that I am not overcome by my sin, but am an overcomer because of Christ. I love You, Jesus. Thank You for helping me love You more. And as always, praise You. I praise You.
You see sometimes, when I'm really frustrated and upset, chocolate becomes my comfort.
Now, in defense of my little, dark friend, I have read reports that say chocolate is good for you and that we should all have a little bit every day, but I'm not talking about just a "little chocolate." I'm talking about chocolate consumption on a much grander scale.
I never intend to overindulge. It just happens. Some situation, some struggle, some stress comes into my life, and without thinking, I head to my favorite stash of chocolate chips in the cupboard. Of course, you can't just eat chocolate chips by themselves. That wouldn't be healthy! So, I add in a spoonful of peanut butter to the mix for added protein! But before you know it, I've had at least four spoonfuls of peanut butter, combined with several handfuls of chocolate chips, and my well laid out plans for chocolate chip muffins for breakfast the next morning, fly out the window.
I'm not saying that chocolate chips and peanut butter should be banned from the grocery shelves. They, in and of themselves, are not wrong. However, in my case, they are quite a temptation.
I realize you didn't start reading this article, just so you could read my "chocolate confession." There is a point here.
You see, when I find myself in the kitchen frantically searching for a spoon to dip into the peanut butter and spilling chocolate morsels all over the floor in my haste, I am looking for THAT THING. I am looking for THAT THING to take away the anxiety. I am looking for THAT THING to make me feel better. In essence I am looking for comfort. However, most of the time what I find instead, is a bad taste in my mouth, a regret in my mind, and a few extra bulges on my mid-section.
James 1:14,15 tells us that each one of us is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Let's look at that verse another way...each one of us is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed (I NEED chocolate. I've got to have it. I know I've indulged in the past, but this time will be different. I'll only have a handful of chips.). Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; (just one more spoonful won't hurt. Peanut butter's not bad for me anyway. The ratio is off...I need more chocolate chips to cut the gummy taste of the peanut butter...just one more.) and sin, when it is full-grown, (There, that's better. Actually, I don't feel so good after all. Have I lost my mind! Why did I do that? Why did I eat that many chocolate chips. Now I don't have enough for the muffins in the morning. I'm so stupid. I can't believe I did that again.) brings for death (What! Where did that come from! I didn't weigh that much yesterday!).
See what I mean? Temptation is a trap and a snare. When we give in to it, it never brings forth the comfort and joy that it promises. Instead it only gives us death. Sometimes that death is physical, but it's also emotional, spiritual, you name it. The by-product of giving in to temptation is death. Period.
You might be thinking this chocolate fixation of mine is silly...so silly that it can't be sin - but it is. When I overindulge in something - no matter how insignificant it might seem - I am, in a way, thinking that THAT THING will make me feel better, act better, be better...I am replacing my God with THAT THING. THAT THING is taking His place in my life.
God and God, alone, brings comfort from the craziness and replaces the stress with peace. So, instead of heading for the kitchen, I should be heading for my prayer closet and bowing myself before the best fix of all time!
Your temptation - your desire to be comforted by THAT THING - may be different than mine. It may be abusing alcohol. It may be allowing yourself to blow off steam on another, when you get angry. It may as simple as speaking negatively about another person to make yourself feel better. Whatever the case, THAT THING, when allowed to go unchecked, will bring forth death and affect others around you like you never imagined.
Sounds hopeless, doesn't it? Oh, but it's not!
When you feel yourself slipping away, desiring THAT THING, instead of desiring God - pray. Tell God that you know He is your only comfort. That He, alone, can make this situation better. Memorize I Corinthians 10:13 and repeat it back to yourself for strength: No temptation has overtaken you except such as common to man; but God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Did you get that!?! Did you really read that verse? Did you see the fact that God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear - that you are strong enough to fight THAT THING with His help? Did you also see that the situation is NOT hopeless...that God will provide a way out, if we will but search for it?
That's good news, isn't it...for you and your temptations - and me and my waistline!
Dear Jesus, please help me, when I am being tempted to sin, to remember that You are my comfort....that You want to help me...that my situation is not hopeless...that I have the strength to fight...that I am not overcome by my sin, but am an overcomer because of Christ. I love You, Jesus. Thank You for helping me love You more. And as always, praise You. I praise You.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Whose Responsibility is It Anyway?
"Come to Me, all ye who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest," (Matthew 11:28).
Okay, I've got a pop quiz for you. There's only one question, so you probably need to know the answer to get a good grade in my class - aren't you glad you're not in MY class!
The question is: Who said that? Who was it that spoke those words of encouragement and conviction at the top of the page?
Yep...I knew you knew the answer. That's why I asked it to begin with! It WAS Jesus...ding, ding, ding...and aren't you glad it was Him?!
I'll bet I could say those words to you, and it wouldn't have quite the same effect. You probably would smile politely and then check my forehead for a fever. Why? Why would it be so strange for me to think that I could give you rest from your struggles?
And yet again, you have the correct answer...ding, ding, ding. I AM human. I'm not perfect. No matter how desperately I would hope to give you complete rest, I would never be able to. I might try. I might see you exhausted and stress-sticken and be so compelled by your situation that I invite you over for a cup of tea. I might ask you to make yourself at home. I might give you chocolate and make you homemade cookies. If I'm desperate enough...I might even call Dr. Phil for some wisdom and advice....NOT!
That's not to say that those things wouldn't bring SOME amount of comfort and rest. After all, who wouldn't be comforted by a chocolate chip cookie! But no matter how good the cookies are, or how warm and tasty the tea, or how comfy and sleep-inducing the couch - you won't find real comfort...real rest...with me. Even if I desperately desire it FOR you, I could never give it TO you. I wasn't meant to. It's not my RESPONSIBILITY. It's not even within my ABILITY. Comfort and rest come from only one place and only One person...Jesus Christ.
Sometimes, I forget that. I forget that people can't supply my rest and ease. It's all my husband's fault (I'm kidding, you know!). He's so wonderful to me that I go to him for everything!
(Happy Birthday, by the way, Steve!)
You see, Steve has always showered me with his affection, with his love, with everything he could possibly afford. I seriously have to be careful about saying what I want, because my husband will go out and get it for me immediately. I can't even joke about wanting a new car, without his eyes getting large and hopeful...thinking he could make my world a better place, with simply a drive into town!
For all of you who think that must be heaven - it is, but there's also a warning attached to this bottle of "heavenliness." Because of Steve's willingness to "comfort" me and provide me with rest, I put all my eggs in one proverbial basket and find myself EXPECTING that from him. I EXPECT him to provide relief on the hard days. I EXPECT him to make my life easier and less stressful. I EXPECT him to know just what to say to make me feel assured and joyful, instead of confused and bewildered.
I EXPECT him to provide my rest.
See the problem with that?
Now, don't get me wrong. God gave my husband to me, and I am unbelievably grateful and thankful. He knew Steve would be a perfect match for this little girl from Mississippi. God knew that she would need someone caring and gentle...someone who desired her to not only have the best, but be the best she could be. So, God gave me Steve as a gift - to enrich my life here on earth - to walk hand in hand with me during the good times and the bad - to be His human touch in my life. However, God never intended me to transfer HIS responsibility over to my husband. He never intended for Steve to be able to give me the rest I crave. He never intended for anyone, but Himself to provide lasting rest.
"Come to Me"...not come to Steve...not come to your neighbor...not come to your boss...not come to your job...not even come to your dog...to find rest. Christ says "Come to Me...and I will give you rest."
And in response to His command...I come.
Dear Jesus, help ME heed that call today. Help me to hear You pleading for me to come to You...to come to You and find everything that I could ever possibly need or want for this life. Thank You, Lord, that you provide that. You provide my relief, as well as my rest. You are good to me. Thank You, Jesus for the invitation. Thank You.
Okay, I've got a pop quiz for you. There's only one question, so you probably need to know the answer to get a good grade in my class - aren't you glad you're not in MY class!
The question is: Who said that? Who was it that spoke those words of encouragement and conviction at the top of the page?
Yep...I knew you knew the answer. That's why I asked it to begin with! It WAS Jesus...ding, ding, ding...and aren't you glad it was Him?!
I'll bet I could say those words to you, and it wouldn't have quite the same effect. You probably would smile politely and then check my forehead for a fever. Why? Why would it be so strange for me to think that I could give you rest from your struggles?
And yet again, you have the correct answer...ding, ding, ding. I AM human. I'm not perfect. No matter how desperately I would hope to give you complete rest, I would never be able to. I might try. I might see you exhausted and stress-sticken and be so compelled by your situation that I invite you over for a cup of tea. I might ask you to make yourself at home. I might give you chocolate and make you homemade cookies. If I'm desperate enough...I might even call Dr. Phil for some wisdom and advice....NOT!
That's not to say that those things wouldn't bring SOME amount of comfort and rest. After all, who wouldn't be comforted by a chocolate chip cookie! But no matter how good the cookies are, or how warm and tasty the tea, or how comfy and sleep-inducing the couch - you won't find real comfort...real rest...with me. Even if I desperately desire it FOR you, I could never give it TO you. I wasn't meant to. It's not my RESPONSIBILITY. It's not even within my ABILITY. Comfort and rest come from only one place and only One person...Jesus Christ.
Sometimes, I forget that. I forget that people can't supply my rest and ease. It's all my husband's fault (I'm kidding, you know!). He's so wonderful to me that I go to him for everything!
(Happy Birthday, by the way, Steve!)
You see, Steve has always showered me with his affection, with his love, with everything he could possibly afford. I seriously have to be careful about saying what I want, because my husband will go out and get it for me immediately. I can't even joke about wanting a new car, without his eyes getting large and hopeful...thinking he could make my world a better place, with simply a drive into town!
For all of you who think that must be heaven - it is, but there's also a warning attached to this bottle of "heavenliness." Because of Steve's willingness to "comfort" me and provide me with rest, I put all my eggs in one proverbial basket and find myself EXPECTING that from him. I EXPECT him to provide relief on the hard days. I EXPECT him to make my life easier and less stressful. I EXPECT him to know just what to say to make me feel assured and joyful, instead of confused and bewildered.
I EXPECT him to provide my rest.
See the problem with that?
Now, don't get me wrong. God gave my husband to me, and I am unbelievably grateful and thankful. He knew Steve would be a perfect match for this little girl from Mississippi. God knew that she would need someone caring and gentle...someone who desired her to not only have the best, but be the best she could be. So, God gave me Steve as a gift - to enrich my life here on earth - to walk hand in hand with me during the good times and the bad - to be His human touch in my life. However, God never intended me to transfer HIS responsibility over to my husband. He never intended for Steve to be able to give me the rest I crave. He never intended for anyone, but Himself to provide lasting rest.
"Come to Me"...not come to Steve...not come to your neighbor...not come to your boss...not come to your job...not even come to your dog...to find rest. Christ says "Come to Me...and I will give you rest."
And in response to His command...I come.
Dear Jesus, help ME heed that call today. Help me to hear You pleading for me to come to You...to come to You and find everything that I could ever possibly need or want for this life. Thank You, Lord, that you provide that. You provide my relief, as well as my rest. You are good to me. Thank You, Jesus for the invitation. Thank You.
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