"It" Happens

I've been putting off writing. I've been putting off lots of things actually. I've been getting by. I even know why...now....finally? OR I'm just willing to admit it to myself, again. The thoughts of this post have been rattling around in my head. I procrastinate. I put it off. I think it will go away. It hasn't....so here goes.

Life has a lot of crap. I want to use the other word, but I'll keep it PG....and it ties into my point...so I'll leave it at crap. Sometimes Crap! with a Capital C. Sometimes it all happens at once. Sometimes it trickles so you really don't notice at first until you feel like you're in that creek with no paddle. Floating. Honestly? Who wants to just float? I want to fix it. To be in control. To get out of the boat, the creek. I want to MOVE ON. I want it handled.

My problem? It's heavy and I'm weak. Here is an example the best way I can state it.

We have cats. Too many cats. They eat. They crap. We scoop. We bag it up and throw it away. We don't hold on to it. It stinks! I would never GIVE that bag to anyone else to hold on to. Not even somebody I really don't care for. Why would I give it to somebody I claim to love?

Stuff happens. Too much stuff happens. It's messy. We bag it up....and carry it around. No wonder we get tired, anxious, crabby, etc. WHY?

God has offered to carry our burdens. Heavy as they may be. Messy as they are. I KNOW that. In my heart. On a good day, even in my head.

Once again, I have put human qualities on God's sovereignty.

He wants ALL of it. The good. The bad. The ugly. The messy. The things I would NEVER give or expect anyone else to handle. The things that if I would just put down...He will pick up.

What kind of crap have you been carrying around? Are you ready to give it up?

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Dear God,

Thank you so much that you know and understand us better than we can ever comprehend. Help us to know in our hearts and heads that when we give up control it gives you the chance to work in our lives. Help us not to hang on to our messes. Thank you that when we put them down you can and will carry our burdens. 

Amen

As Is

If you like to shop garage sales, thrift stores or Craig's List and Ebay OR if you've ever purchased a previously-owned (used!) car, you are familiar with the term "as is". This term is usually used for an item that is perfectly usable except for....that....one (or more)...imperfection. If it is an item with wheels, it may even be sold "where is" meaning you have to do whatever you need to do to get it to your location.

Sometimes, especially on down days, we can get to feeling a bit "as is" (or whatever you choose to call it: less than, not enough, different, etc). The good news is that "as is" does not mean useless or unworthy.

God can and will pick us up, dust us off and make us the BEST as is we can become, IF (that is a big IF sometimes!) we let Him.

"God loves us the way we are, but too much to leave us that way." - Leighton Ford

Praying that whatever may be standing in your way today that you may feel better than new and never just "as is". God has paid a high price for YOU! He thinks you are worth it. I do too.

Acts 17:27  God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 

Who Holds the Key?

Who Holds the Key?


Thoughts are fleeting inside of my mind.
There one minute and gone the next.
Sometimes it feels like there is a lock on me.
Then I question:
Who holds the key?


My body gets fragile
Wrinkles appear
I look in the mirror
Don't always like what I see
Sometimes it feels like there is a lock on me.
Then I question:
Who holds the key?


I can be filled with the Spirit
if I'd give up control.
Give up perfection.
Start to feel free.
Sometimes I feel there is a lock on me.
Then I question:
Who holds the key?


8/19/12
KL
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As I get older, I realize the importance of balance between mind, body and spirit even more. When I pay attention to one more than another, life can feel like a free fall. Sometimes it feels like I can unlock one....and there's another lock, and another lock.....barriers. On a good day, I can say, "bring it on!" On a not-so-good day, I have to find better ways to deal with and sometimes realize it's OK (and preferable) to give God the key. He's a pretty good key master. :)


Got any locks you need to deal with? They may have been there for awhile. Dust off that key. You've been holding it all along.

Thinking Outside the Box

Remember jack-in-the-box? Sometimes "jack" was a clown, or Snoopy, or another popular character. They may have had a different tune, but the one I'm thinking of is *POP* goes the weasel. One would s-l-o-w-l-y turn the handle, listening to the music, knowing that the *POP* would come. UP Jack would pop, we'd laugh (especially if playing with an unsuspecting child!....I know, MEAN!), then "jack" would be tucked back in the box, cover closed, to do it all over again.

I've been thinking how often I have treated God like my own personal jack-in-the-box. The box sits on a shelf until I'm ready to use it. Every couple of days or when something goes wrong, whichever comes first....I pull down the box. I turn the crank.....I read the Bible, I sing a praise song, I listen to Christian radio, I pray....*POP* I am pleasantly surprised God shows up to meet my need. Then I conveniently (for me) push God back in the box, cover closed, to do it all over again.

Sometimes I convince myself that God couldn't possibly be interested in ALL the things that are stressing me out or making me feel overwhelmed.
Sometimes I convince myself God is only interested in the BIG stuff.
Sometimes I convince myself God is limited by human frailties.
Sometimes I am convinced, I think.....TOO much!

I have limited God to the confines of the little box I keep Him in. I do not allow Him to be ALL He is that can make me ALL I can be. I've known God long enough (relationship) to KNOW that He IS interested in ALL the things going on in my life NOT just the big stuff. He is NOT limited by my human thoughts. He took on the qualities of a human for a brief period in time.

Sometimes we get SO wrapped up in the turning of the crank and the expectation of the *POP* that we forget we are the one that shut the lid!

I want to move beyond the limitations that I have put on God. Want to join me?

*POP*?!?!?!?!?!

John 1:1-5 (NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Job 11:7-9 (NIV) “Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

Psalm 147:5 (NIV) Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

You're OK

Life stays too busy, but what else is new? Truly what makes it busy is sometimes just things to keep me busy so I don't have to deal with other "stuff" and life avoiding.

Our mom had eye surgery yesterday. I went last night to help until my sister could get there. She is much better with medical stuff than I am. I can crunch numbers like nobody's business and help with general "care", but get me near needles and medical mumbo jumbo? EEK! We all have our talents and areas of gifts. :)

After surgery, mom needed more assistance than normal doing everyday things she can normally do pretty well on her own. One eye was covered up. She was supposed to lay on her back as much as possible. This is difficult enough as it is. Life is challenging enough without extra challenges! Understandably, she felt unsteady as she made her way through the day.

Last night, I found myself saying numerous times, "you're OK". As a parent, I have said this to our kids many times. I have personally dealt with anxiety and had close family members that do too. I've been told this many times too. I remember not always feeling OK even though I was being reassured I should feel OK.

I thought I was being reassuring. Later though, I got to thinking it was also kind of condescending.

She didn't FEEL OK. I've been telling, not listening. I didn't take that extra few seconds to find out WHY she/our kids/other people/I might not actually feel OK.

Looking back, I think I meant to say "Trust me. I know you can't see right now. You don't trust yourself. Trust me. I will be your eyes. I will help get you to where you need to go."

It is extremely difficult to be this vulnerable. We are sometimes. We don't want to ADMIT it though! Even if others can see why we might need some reassurance and assistance.

Looking at the bigger picture? I think God has been whispering this to my soul lately. I haven't been doing the best at listening. I find things to reassure myself I'm OK. God tells me I don't need to FEEL OK. I need to TRUST Him!

How about you? Feeling a little less than OK? TRUST.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Psalm 9:10
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 13:5

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Isaiah 12:2

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.