Wednesday, August 12, 2015

My Do It.

"My do it, Mommy!"  I'm standing over my precious (tongue in cheek), strong-willed 2 yr old, offering to help him, but he wants to do it.  He has his toothbrush in one hand and the toothpaste in the other, trying with all his might to squeeze the toothpaste on the toothbrush, but nothing is coming out.  I know this battle...  I've lived through this a few times before and I know that if I don't let him figure out he can't do it on his own, that this will turn into a power struggle.  So, I stand there and wait.  I wait longer than I want to and fight every urge to just take it from his little hands.  I wait while he has his head down, trying to figure out how to make this work.  I wait until he figures out...  he can't do this on his own and while I wait the Spirit of the Lord speaks to my heart...  He shows me what I look like when I try to do everything on my own.  He shows me that there are things that are too hard for me...  things that I really need to give to him.  There are things that He, as my Father in Heaven, is able to do and wants to do for me, but He waits until I surrender and place them in His able and faithful hands.

One day Jesus and his disciples went into a ship and launched out on the lake and when they sailed out Jesus fell asleep.  While they were out on the water a fierce storm came on the lake and the boat began to fill with water, and they were in danger of sinking.  After trying as hard as they could to keep the ship from sinking, they came to Jesus and woke him saying "Master, Master, we perish."  Then he arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased and there was calm.

Do you notice how the disciples were focused on the minors...  They were trying to save themselves and the boat from sinking.  Jesus was focused on the majors and went straight to the storm and calmed it.

We have to face it, sometimes things are too big for us.

As I read this story this morning I thought about my storm.  The last couple of weeks I have had some anxiety about starting school.  Last year was HARD.  I wanted to quit homeschooling and send my kids to school everyday.  I know, because I have prayed about this repeatedly, that this is what is what God desires for our family, but it is nothing like I envisioned in my head, and most days ended with me feeling like a complete failure. 

This year I have committed to praying for my homeschool and not relying on my own strength, knowledge and ability.  This job is too much for me to do alone.  I need help.  I need to hand over the toothpaste and let my Father put it on my toothbrush. 

Today the Lord reminded me of this verse...  "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect (at peace) with Him."  II Chronicles 16:9

and "Commit (roll off onto) your way to the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." Psalms 37:5

and "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct (make smooth) your paths." Prov 3:6

God is my Father.  He desires to be actively involved in my life.  I either push him away and try to do it all myself, and struggle, OR I can hand my life over to him and rest in his protection, provision, and help.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present (an abundantly active) help in time of trouble." Psalms 46:1

There are so many verses I could put in here, because the Bible from the beginning to the end is a love letter telling us that God wants to be our loving Father, but I think you get the idea, He wants to be involved in our lives, but He will wait patiently until we hand our lives to him. 

Quit being stubborn and just give him the toothpaste already!!!

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Much Love

She's a woman, who has lived a fast life...  The Bible calls her a sinner, but most believe that she was a harlot, a prostitute.  What was she thinking that day that she walked into the Pharisee's home?  I'm sure she knew what everyone there would be thinking.  They were all "good people".  The host was a religious leader, he would know exactly who she was, but she didn't care, she had to take the chance.  She had never been this close to him before, Jesus, he was here, and she had to see him.  She had heard him speak before, and the words he spoke had changed her life.  His words had gone to the depths of her soul and given her hope for a real future, one without being used and abused by men.  His words of God's love and forgiveness, for even her sin, which most would say was the worst of all. 

As she walked through the door she had only one thing on her mind, she had to get to him.  In her hands she clutched a bottle of expensive ointment, she had purchased it just for this.  All the men were lounging around low tables, with their feet behind them, talking about religion and asking Jesus questions.  The room was full and if she had been in her right mind this is the last place she would ever be.  In the dark of night she may have seen some of these same men, but in the light of the day, she would have been less than pond scum to them. 

There he was, Jesus.  Her heart swelled when she looked at him.  Her love for him and gratitude could no longer be held in.  She started weeping and kneeled down before him.  Not able to look up or say anything to her Savior, she kept her head down, crying.  She pulled out the bottle and poured it on His feet.  She didn't care that this was the job of a servant, she would do anything for him.  She rubbed the ointment into his skin, as the tears dropped onto his feet, with no towel to dry his feet, she let down her hair, and wiped his feet with her hair.  She was so overcome with her love for him and lost in the moment, she didn't even hear the conversation going on around her.

Simon, the Pharisee, is thinking "If Jesus was a prophet, he would know what kind of woman this is that touches him, for she is a sinner."

Jesus knows his thoughts...  His heart aches, because this is the very reason he has come.  People have forgotten what God really wants from them.  They are so wrapped up in their own "goodness" that they condemn anyone they deem unworthy.  There's so much hate, so much brokenness and this is just another example.  He says "Simon, I have something to say to you."

"Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water to wash my feet: but she has washed them with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.  You gave me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in has not ceased to kiss my feet.  My head you did not anoint with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment.  Wherefore I say unto you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom is forgiven little, the same loves little."

This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible.  This is one of the reasons that I love Jesus much.  I was once the same kind of woman.  I felt like I was unworthy of love.  I was hopeless that my future could be any different, but one day I heard the words of Jesus.  I heard "Your sins have been forgiven".  I experienced the unconditional love of God and I was changed.  I love Jesus much, because I too have been forgiven much. 

Oh, what a Savior. 

You've changed

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