Have you ever tried to prepare a meal with a one year old
and a two year old underfoot?
Needless to say, it is challenging.
Their hands are where they shouldn’t be. You feel like you
are stepping on them (or you do – opps!), they have wants they are voicing and
you are trying to focus on your meal you are preparing. They are pulling things
out of the cabinets and drawers. You almost fall over a few times. You try to
get them out of the kitchen but they aren’t tempted at all ….they want to be
wherever you are…. particularly RIGHT UNDER YOUR FEET. You feel like you are going to loose your
sanity… ”can’t I just cut this chicken in peace”…. “shouldn’t cooking be easier”.
You deal with it because you know ultimately they are not
going anywhere without a fight…. That is where they want to be…..and you know
that, truthfully, you are thankful for those little ones under your feet.
That is a little glimpse of where I feel like I am at right
now. I am trying to fix my eyes back on HIM. I am trying to REJOICE. The
circumstances may have not changed. It still maybe a challenge but despite it
all you must go on…. And I can’t afford to go on with out that true JOY that
comes from Him. I miss it.
These last few years
I have been fixing my eyes on so many other things but Him.
Yesterday I told my car full of kids.. “I hear a lot of grumpy
attitudes going on.” My younger boy said, “I am not grumpy now because I got
what I wanted”. My reply, “So you’re only grumpy when you don’t get what you
want?” His reply, “Yes.”
I didn’t say much after that…no wise words from this mom…..
it hit too close to home.
I too have been grumpy… some things aren’t working out the
way I wanted them too and I am throwing an attitude with my heavenly Father.
Holly didn’t get to see her kids grow up and i had to say goodbye way earlier than i wanted to, and i am not living in some other country
like i always thought I would be and etc. etc.
Now I know Holly is in a better place and she is doing what
she was created to do… what all of us were created to do… she is experiencing
the ultimate glory of GOD…. And I know if God wanted me in some other country…
He would put me there. And I know for all of the other things too I must trust
Him…and He is worthy of that Trust.
Like our little miracle of Nations Hope… there are times throughout
these past 4 years when we thought we would never have a little Nations Hope. I
cried so many tears. And now miraculously we
have her…. in His perfect timing.
Why do I want my way…. my time…..When HIS way is so much
more wonderful?
But my eyes so easily drift from the ALMIGHTY TRUSTWORTHY
SAVIOR to the circumstances that aren’t working out my way or just simply to people…. and then I feel
like that two year old of mine…. Just collapsing on the ground in protest.
Pathetic I know. But that is where I find myself so many
times… throwing an ugly fit. I may not
do it as dramatically as my two year old… but it is inside my heart where it
has slowing been stealing true joy.
I have prayed for a “SLAP in the FACE” a “KICK in the
bottom”….I want to get out of this pity party, the sadness, this eyes on me
attitude.
God has been answering it. It seems like everywhere I turn this bit of
TRUTH shows up. And it means something so different to me now. Now that I have
and am having to do it through the trials of life.
Philippians 4:6-9
Don’t worry about ANYTHING, instead, PRAY about EVERYTHING.
Tell God what you need and thank Him for all HE has done. Then you will
experience God’s peace , which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace
will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear
brothers and sisters, one final thing. FIX your thoughts on what is TRUE, and
honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable, think about things
that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you
have learned and received from me – everything you have heard from me and saw
me doing, then the peace of God will be with you. (Paul was writing from prison
– where he still praised God and prayed all day and night despite his
sufferings, even for his sufferings).
When we hear a constant complaint from the kids we always
make them say 3 things they are thankful for. It is helpful for us adults too.
So if you are down in a pit of sadness or not living in joy
and can’t seem to get out. Or just anxious or full of worry. Rejoice HE IS who
HE SAYS HE is. Thank Him for all HE has done. – it is like medicine to the
soul. :) It is really helping me.
I feel like He is taking my little face in his hands, like a
loving father, and pointing my face to look in HIS eyes… and when my eyes and
heart see HIM … the fruit is JOY… the fruit is thankfulness, the fruit is peace.... and i can breath again.
(This one is interested too... though i do not agree completely with his first thoughts about depression. There are clinical depressions or sicknesses where people need medication and consistant professional help - where people need a real healing miracle from God...)
This one is good on REJOICING through trials-
