You know if you have a child...and you take a trip...you just know this will pop out about 5000 times before you get there. Why? Because a child is impatient, right? And as the adult, as the loving parent, you are supposed to answer with a kind and loving (and mature) response.
But do we whine and ask and persist with God? Do we? Do we?
What if I feel I have waited long enough? What if I have done what I have been asked to do? What if I have invested in right actions and even made hard choices to do so? What if I have gone the path no one else went? Alone, in fact! Does this not count for anything!?!
May I have a day of whining a little bit please? Just a little? I believe what You are asking is just a bit too hard. Even for me, who has done so much on Your behalf. But what You are asking, right now, at this point in my life, it is just too hard and not right.
We think like that, is it okay for it to slip out? I was praying earlier today and tears running down my face, very gently, it did not feel like a temper tantrum at all. Was it? I am tired and I have been required much of, and much, of I have given. I have not been perfect but I have been faithful through some very difficult and deep waters. I am wiped and my good and gracious Father knows it.
Am I being the Big and Arrogant Brother? Or am I just tired? Oh please, please, I beg you, don't ask this of me! It's not a matter of trust, it is a matter of timing. Don't make me wait another long season and enter into this for another person. After what You just put me through. Please, please, please.
There it is, do you see it? Is He good? Is He? Is He really up to something good in our lives? Or is it much bigger than that? Is it always about changing character?! Is being "home" a great thing? Is being in the presence of my Father a sweet and holy thing or am I rushing on to where I am headed?
"For the LORD God is our light and protector. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is right. O LORD Almighty, happy are those who trust in you." Psalm 84:10-11
Lord, that I would hear this sweet reminder and be satisfied right here, right now. Amen. Thank you, that as Your child, you welcome me.
Do you feel okay being home? Do you whine sometimes, too? What do you hear from your Father?
RUNNING AWAY
Running away may not always be bad. We think of a child throwing a fit and so Mom helps to pack a "heavy" suitcase for her so she will return quickly. We think of a teenager truly leaving home and we have the pit in our stomach and all are out looking, but he needs to go. Perhaps the story of the Prodigal comes to mind and so pictures race across the screen. But another set of photos came to me as I witnessed
I saw this movie two days ago and am still reflecting the impact.
What do we bring to another's home when we run away?
Sometimes we bring a temper tantrum. Sometimes an attitude. Sometimes pain or heartache. Perhaps humiliation and regret. Sometimes things are hidden, but sometimes everyone sees and knows, even if we think they don't.
In this story, there were people willing to receive a young man who had made a lot of mistakes and the story allowed for those mistakes again and again.
He was not perfect, nor were the players in the story. Neither am I.
As I watched, I could identify with everyone. I identified with the one who came in a mess, the one needing the help. Have I not been in such a place, such a mess, too big to get out of it alone?! He knew he could not return home and he knew he had no where to go and so he turned to strangers for help. He didn't really even turn to them, it was arranged for him.
He was not happy about it. It just was.
Are there not things in are lives we are not happy about. But we know that we cannot go back until some things are dealt with. It may not always be about the past, even in the present. Is there not a deeper place of the soul that God may want to speak to us about and we must allow, even at times, complete strangers, to speak and love and enter into our mess, for the sake of what He is after?
Will you allow God to work? Will you allow God permission into your soul? Will I?
It may look like choice is not a part of the story, but it always is. Always. You and I decide if we will keep running or walk into the deeper places where God is calling.
Do you hear the invitation? What is your response?
"I am standing at the door of your heart, I am knocking, gently, waiting, patiently. I would like for you to let me in. What is your answer?" Revelation 3:20
7 Days in Utopia
I saw this movie two days ago and am still reflecting the impact.
What do we bring to another's home when we run away?
Sometimes we bring a temper tantrum. Sometimes an attitude. Sometimes pain or heartache. Perhaps humiliation and regret. Sometimes things are hidden, but sometimes everyone sees and knows, even if we think they don't.
In this story, there were people willing to receive a young man who had made a lot of mistakes and the story allowed for those mistakes again and again.
He was not perfect, nor were the players in the story. Neither am I.
As I watched, I could identify with everyone. I identified with the one who came in a mess, the one needing the help. Have I not been in such a place, such a mess, too big to get out of it alone?! He knew he could not return home and he knew he had no where to go and so he turned to strangers for help. He didn't really even turn to them, it was arranged for him.
He was not happy about it. It just was.
Are there not things in are lives we are not happy about. But we know that we cannot go back until some things are dealt with. It may not always be about the past, even in the present. Is there not a deeper place of the soul that God may want to speak to us about and we must allow, even at times, complete strangers, to speak and love and enter into our mess, for the sake of what He is after?
Will you allow God to work? Will you allow God permission into your soul? Will I?
It may look like choice is not a part of the story, but it always is. Always. You and I decide if we will keep running or walk into the deeper places where God is calling.
Do you hear the invitation? What is your response?
"I am standing at the door of your heart, I am knocking, gently, waiting, patiently. I would like for you to let me in. What is your answer?" Revelation 3:20
I'M HEARING VOICES!
"sticks and stones will break my bones but WORDS will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ...they'll never hurt me."
No, you're not going crazy! At least, I don't think you are. But we hear voices, don't we? Voices that are not at all pleasant. Don't you wish you could get out a gun and shoot those who are screaming, whispering, taunting, at times following you around your day?
Some people spend a lot of time and energy sitting down chatting with a therapist and I am not at all knocking this! For there is great benefit in telling your story and sorting out your life and realizing, perhaps, that a dominating mother may not need to consume your thoughts and life anymore! Or you don't need to live to reverse the words of an angry father's outburst. The Word says that how a person thinks, that is how they live. So true, no? But you may not be feeling like calling a Shrink today and still maybe feeling, taunted, attacked, or even defeated.
Good news, and you may need to be reminded of this. Check this out:
Who dare accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself. Who then shall condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God pleading for us. Romans 8:33-34
Today, will you be careful who you listen to? The One who stood at the Gate longing for you to return home is not unhappy with you. The Father loves you. The Son, who died, who was raised and is sitting, praying for you... He is still moving on your behalf. Can you hear His voice today? He is calling out your name to the Father. Are you going through some hard things, are you struggling? No one is accusing you. Jesus is praying for you, listen, you might hear Him. What is He saying to you?
No, you're not going crazy! At least, I don't think you are. But we hear voices, don't we? Voices that are not at all pleasant. Don't you wish you could get out a gun and shoot those who are screaming, whispering, taunting, at times following you around your day?
Some people spend a lot of time and energy sitting down chatting with a therapist and I am not at all knocking this! For there is great benefit in telling your story and sorting out your life and realizing, perhaps, that a dominating mother may not need to consume your thoughts and life anymore! Or you don't need to live to reverse the words of an angry father's outburst. The Word says that how a person thinks, that is how they live. So true, no? But you may not be feeling like calling a Shrink today and still maybe feeling, taunted, attacked, or even defeated.
Good news, and you may need to be reminded of this. Check this out:
Who dare accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself. Who then shall condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God pleading for us. Romans 8:33-34
Today, will you be careful who you listen to? The One who stood at the Gate longing for you to return home is not unhappy with you. The Father loves you. The Son, who died, who was raised and is sitting, praying for you... He is still moving on your behalf. Can you hear His voice today? He is calling out your name to the Father. Are you going through some hard things, are you struggling? No one is accusing you. Jesus is praying for you, listen, you might hear Him. What is He saying to you?
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