This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16 NIV
Get up, exercise, catch up with email & Facebook, get kids breakfast, make sure kids are awake, clean, teach preschool, maybe make a phone call...the list goes on and on. Some days there is more to do, other days a little less.
I begin to think if I can only make it to the weekend then I can rest, take a minute to catch up with things. But no the weekend can be even crazier then my week: two trainings in one day, a birthday party, get things ready for church, fix food. Then the last day of my weekend comes around and it's just as erratic.
The Lord commands us to have a sabbath day, a day of rest. So how exactly am I suppose to take this day of rest? I mean every day is filled to the max. I know my week goes better when I do get a chance to rest, but taking that nap will just put me further behind. Could it be I need to put a nap on my schedule or I just need to do it?
As the end of the year approaches, I know my days will get consumed with even more things. There are more church events, more home school events, and more at home events. How can I manage to rest and get it all done?
I guess I need to step back and look at what's worked in the past or what didn't work in the past. Pray about what really needs done (priorities) and seek to find rest. Then I can breathe a sigh of relief and know I did my best without the extra stress.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Filling the Void
In him was life and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:4-5 NIV
Emptiness, void, alone...there are times when I've felt this way. Sometimes it seems no one truly understands what I'm going through, which unless he/she has walked in my shoes and felt what I've felt they don't.
We each have a hole we dig for ourselves. An emptiness that will keep feeling empty until we fill it with the right things. We each determine how deep we let our hole get before we fill it.
Sometimes we begin to fill it with the wrong things. Sure it's steady for a time but eventually those things begin to crumble away. The wrong things seem stable or dependable, but they are far from it.
One of the times I felt empty and alone was when we were about to lose it all. My husband was unaware how serious the financial situation had become. He had an idea it was bad because he recommended a place to help us get out of debt. I wouldn't have anything to do with it though.
It seemed easier to borrow on the credit card then to find a better way. The debt kept growing. There was never enough money to cover it all. I tried to fill the hole, but the hole only got deeper. Finally, I surrendered to the one I knew could solve it. Surely He could fill my hole.
That day I confessed all my mistakes to the Lord, sought forgiveness, and learned to serve Him. He filled my hole that day and saved us from a life of homelessness. Sure there are times when I try to re dig that hole, but quickly I surrender and He refills my hole again.
As my preschoolers have been learning, there is no darkness where there is light. God is the light, He's willing to come in and fill your hole. All you need to do is give Him the shovel.
Emptiness, void, alone...there are times when I've felt this way. Sometimes it seems no one truly understands what I'm going through, which unless he/she has walked in my shoes and felt what I've felt they don't.
We each have a hole we dig for ourselves. An emptiness that will keep feeling empty until we fill it with the right things. We each determine how deep we let our hole get before we fill it.
Sometimes we begin to fill it with the wrong things. Sure it's steady for a time but eventually those things begin to crumble away. The wrong things seem stable or dependable, but they are far from it.
One of the times I felt empty and alone was when we were about to lose it all. My husband was unaware how serious the financial situation had become. He had an idea it was bad because he recommended a place to help us get out of debt. I wouldn't have anything to do with it though.
It seemed easier to borrow on the credit card then to find a better way. The debt kept growing. There was never enough money to cover it all. I tried to fill the hole, but the hole only got deeper. Finally, I surrendered to the one I knew could solve it. Surely He could fill my hole.
That day I confessed all my mistakes to the Lord, sought forgiveness, and learned to serve Him. He filled my hole that day and saved us from a life of homelessness. Sure there are times when I try to re dig that hole, but quickly I surrender and He refills my hole again.
As my preschoolers have been learning, there is no darkness where there is light. God is the light, He's willing to come in and fill your hole. All you need to do is give Him the shovel.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
One Minute Joy, The Next Sorrow
"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 NIV
"OK, Lord I've asked you to stop the rain. Apparently you don't think that's a good idea," I tried to reason with God as we were once again stuck in the rain. My husband and I were trying to enjoy our evening at Night of Joy even though it had turned into a Night of Soggy.
We stood there waiting for a concert to start amongst the crowd. It was 40 minutes pass the start time and I was getting upset. My feet were aching, I was in my newly bought rain smock, and I just have had enough with rain. Finally we broke free and went to ride rides of course 10 minutes later the concert I really wanted to see began. Oh well.
Funny how just a couple of days before I was praising God.
I have to attend these mandatory meetings once a year. This year though they only gave me a couple weeks notice and the Saturday of the mandatory meeting was already booked. I really didn't want to change my plans, after all I was planning to visit my grandma.
I called to see about rescheduling, no problem because they offer a couple of Saturday trainings. This time though the date conflicted with something I really wanted to go to. Something that has been on my calendar for six months. Now comes that priority thing I've learned about. Go see grandma or go to conference. I decided to miss the conference.
I really wanted to go this year too. I hadn't been in two years. I sent a message to see about getting a refund. Then while waiting to hear back, the people in charge of the mandatory meeting called me back. She had told me the wrong date, it was the Saturday before the one she told me.
Wow! God had worked it out without me even asking. He knew where I needed to be and where my heart wanted to be. He does indeed have good plans.
Hopefully, I can remember that the next time I'm stuck in the rain.
"OK, Lord I've asked you to stop the rain. Apparently you don't think that's a good idea," I tried to reason with God as we were once again stuck in the rain. My husband and I were trying to enjoy our evening at Night of Joy even though it had turned into a Night of Soggy.
We stood there waiting for a concert to start amongst the crowd. It was 40 minutes pass the start time and I was getting upset. My feet were aching, I was in my newly bought rain smock, and I just have had enough with rain. Finally we broke free and went to ride rides of course 10 minutes later the concert I really wanted to see began. Oh well.
Funny how just a couple of days before I was praising God.
I have to attend these mandatory meetings once a year. This year though they only gave me a couple weeks notice and the Saturday of the mandatory meeting was already booked. I really didn't want to change my plans, after all I was planning to visit my grandma.
I called to see about rescheduling, no problem because they offer a couple of Saturday trainings. This time though the date conflicted with something I really wanted to go to. Something that has been on my calendar for six months. Now comes that priority thing I've learned about. Go see grandma or go to conference. I decided to miss the conference.
I really wanted to go this year too. I hadn't been in two years. I sent a message to see about getting a refund. Then while waiting to hear back, the people in charge of the mandatory meeting called me back. She had told me the wrong date, it was the Saturday before the one she told me.
Wow! God had worked it out without me even asking. He knew where I needed to be and where my heart wanted to be. He does indeed have good plans.
Hopefully, I can remember that the next time I'm stuck in the rain.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
God's Hope Shinning Down
You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. Psalm 18:28 NIV
Riding in the van the other day God spoke to me. This summer we have had our fair share of rain, the gloomy days bring about gloominess and dread. On this particular night the dark clouds were there, but so was the light. God's light offering hope.
We all go through a lot of things, some of them good things and some of them bad things. A lingering illness can bring anybody down. It's not fun to have to endure day after day not feeling well. Not being able to do the things you enjoy or even the things you don't really enjoy.
A struggling marriage. Not wanting to come home and have to deal with the fighting, the hurtful words, or the silence. There seems no hope and love-ha, how did I ever love this person? How can I live this way day after day?
Money or the lack of it. There's never enough money to pay the bills. As soon as it's earned it's already gone. How did I get so behind on the bills? Will my lights even be on when I get home from work? The big truck driving down the road at night wakes you from your slumber. Are they coming to take my vehicle tonight. Will I still have a roof over my head or food to eat?
God is here to help you through the storms of life. He shines His light for all to see. All you have to do is reach out to Him. He wants to help you.
He's been there for me, and will continue to be there. I just need to seek.
Riding in the van the other day God spoke to me. This summer we have had our fair share of rain, the gloomy days bring about gloominess and dread. On this particular night the dark clouds were there, but so was the light. God's light offering hope.
We all go through a lot of things, some of them good things and some of them bad things. A lingering illness can bring anybody down. It's not fun to have to endure day after day not feeling well. Not being able to do the things you enjoy or even the things you don't really enjoy.
A struggling marriage. Not wanting to come home and have to deal with the fighting, the hurtful words, or the silence. There seems no hope and love-ha, how did I ever love this person? How can I live this way day after day?
Money or the lack of it. There's never enough money to pay the bills. As soon as it's earned it's already gone. How did I get so behind on the bills? Will my lights even be on when I get home from work? The big truck driving down the road at night wakes you from your slumber. Are they coming to take my vehicle tonight. Will I still have a roof over my head or food to eat?
God is here to help you through the storms of life. He shines His light for all to see. All you have to do is reach out to Him. He wants to help you.
He's been there for me, and will continue to be there. I just need to seek.
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