Infusion in the midst of confusion

Ah, the time change. Daylight Saving (no S!) time. I will blame/chalk it up to that. The grumpys, blahs, grumbles, gripes, pick a phrase, ______________ (fill in the blank with whatever you call it when you get in a funky mood!) began to run rampant today. My brain felt foggy and confused. I felt like I was going through the motions....and slow motion at that. Letting life happen to me. I turned on some praise music. Better, but still not where I'd like to be.

However, when I really begin to pay attention, I can see all the little/subtle (sometimes NOT so subtle!) ways that God has been trying to get my attention.

As I type this, I'm hearing a message on grumbling and gratitude (and realizing it is the same one I heard when I got in the car earlier this PM after dragging my feet to head out the door, right time, right place comes to mind) OK God, I'm a bit slow! In that message, I was reminded that not being joyful is a way of grumbling at God. Even on my darkest day(s), I am still SO blessed.

Time for a perspective change What is going wrong? to all the things that could be, but are not going wrong.

Where does the infusion come in? I'm thinking back on my day. I get the thought of tea. To me, tea is comforting. I look up the definition of infusion: the addition of something that is needed or helpful. My overwhelmed feelings = hot water. Adding God (tea) the addition of someOne that is needed or helpful. God infuses my overwhelmed feeling into a more comfortable take on life. I could even go as far as living water.

I also happened to pick up a daily devotional book at the thrift store today. "More Than Conquerors" good title and a good reminder to me. "We are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us." Romans 8:37 I open it up to where the ribbon is placed in the book. Who cares if it was July! I read because I have often found (AND still am surprised) that God has taught me much when I take a few minutes to focus on Him. One page is about having an inborn longing for God (compared it to migration for birds). The other page is about hope in our hearts. The line that stuck out: "If God is the sunshine of your life when things are going well, He is also your lamp in the darkness of midnight. When your heart is overwhelmed and many difficulties greatly upset you and it is all too much to share with other people, put your hope in God, your personal Comforter in sorrow."

Prayer:
God, our ever light when darkness tries to creep in,
Thank you for the times you arrange for us to be confronted and comforted in truth and love, especially when we least expect them but need them most. Forgive us for the times when we have let overwhelming feelings. emotions and darkness try to block out the light and love you want for us. Help us not to give into those or let negative words come out of our mouths. Help us to remember 1st to praise and say uplifting words to others and ourselves. There is a difference between happy and joy-filled. I pray for my friends that they be uplifted by Your glory and compassion, however You decide to shine it into their lives. May we dance and sing praises long and loud enough to banish even the grumpiest days into submission.
All in the name of your Son, Jesus.
Amen

The following verses were those mentioned in the radio program I was listening to. The 2nd time? I was even by a computer! Bonus.

When I look in the Bible, I like to look at the headings. Gives me an idea of what's going on. This one in Philippians is under "Have the attitude of Christ" (uh? Yes, please!)

Philippians 2:14 (NLT) Do everything without complaining and arguing,

(Note: in all circumstances, not FOR all!)
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT) Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. 

Radio mentioned verses 11-12. However, the whole chapter is worth a read:
Psalm 30 (NIV)
1 I will exalt you, Lord,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.
3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.
 

4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
 

6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”
7 Lord, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.
 

8 To you, Lord, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;
Lord, be my help.” 

11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

Switch View

I have a confession to make. I like online games. A LOT. I have wasted too much time playing. I can tell myself it is to help me relax, which is true....but it also keeps me from dealing with "stuff" I need to deal with. One game site even lets you earn play "$" so that you can donate it to help causes. Makes me feel not quite so guilty. Problem? You have to play awhile to make it worthwhile.

However, one never knows when a spiritual lesson is lurking amongst the seemingly pointless things in life. There's a game I like called Mah Jongg Toy Chest. Maj Jongg in general is a game where you match tiles to make them go away and clear the board. Trick is you can only click on tiles that are not surrounded by other tiles. Eventually, I run out of matches I can see. However, the game creators provided a help. There's text at the top that says "Switch View". When that is pressed, the board switches and the tiles are at a different angle which usually reveals more matches....and play continues until there are no more available matches....or time runs out.

When the view is switched, the perspective changes. I looked up perspective: the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance (urge you to maintain your perspective and to view your own task in a larger framework — W. J. Cohen)

I read a story/e-mail one time about people who could not agree. So the teacher put a person on each side of a ball where each person could only see their side. They had to convince the other person they were right. One side was black, one was white. There was no way they could agree....until they switched sides and saw it from the other person's view.

Life is a lot like that. However, I am reminded often that I am not seeing the whole picture. God has left just enough of the details out that I have to trust and have faith that His perspective is enough. Once in awhile, I get a small glimpse of changes I need to make to keep moving forward. A reminder that I need to switch views.

Philippians 3:14-16 (NIV) ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶ Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

PS The prize on Maj Jongg Toy Chest if you get all the matches? A big penguin waddles out and you get extra points for the remaining time. I know....God's plan is MUCH better!

Father, Thank you so much for the ability to sometimes catch a view of the vision you have for us and others you bring into our lives. May we keep pressing toward the real prize. We seek your wisdom and your viewpoint to keep us moving onward and upward.

Victorious Living - Worth a listen!

Sometimes I think God delays us to be in a certain spot to hear just what we need to hear just when we need to hear it. I have had this happen often: usually with songs, sometimes with Dr. Laura, and many times with Focus on the Family.

I heard the first part of this yesterday and was moved to tears many times in a 1/2 hour! There are times when we think things couldn't get worse. Then, through God's grace, we hear or see something that puts our lives and problems in perspective.

http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Focus_on_the_Family/Default.asp If you look soon, it is listed under Daily Broadcasts. If you have to, search under David Ring or Victorious Living. David Ring has cerebral palsy. His 1st saying was: I've got Cerebral Palsy, what's your problem? Now he uses, I have Cerebral Palsy, but Cerebral Palsy doesn't have me. It takes some concentration to listen, but what a message!

I'm listening to the 2nd part now. Tears flow and life is in perspective for today.

Hang in there and keep looking up! God loves us...what else do we need?