Well, it's been a while. Nice to see you! So glad you stopped by. I haven't blogged in what feels like forever. It's my husband's fault! He was off from work on Monday & Tuesday because of Mardi Gras (which we don't celebrate) and it was the perfect excuse to escape to the camp for a weekend getaway. It was a welcomed break.
I always enjoy taking time off from my "regular scheduled programming" for a distraction. It helps to keep my life interesting. But, I am always eager to get back on track to my predictable days. It seems that I get some sort of peace from knowing what to expect; a joy from what I can accomplish in a day. It's a comfort to me to settle back into my routine with the kids. If things are out of tune for too long I tend to get grouchy and overwhelmed. (Gasp! It's a Shocker, I know!) Even though I sometimes complain about doing the same thing day in and day out, I secretly do relish the familiarity of my days. At least to some degree. I also relish shopping days, field trips, excuses to get dressed up really nice, and visiting with my friends for girl talk!
When we are on vacation from the rhythm of life, things tend to get left undone! Important things. Like laundry, school, scrubbing toilets & floors, writing my blog, and even reading my Bible. When I stay away from writing a blog or reading my Bible for too long, it's like a crazy person staying out of therapy. It can get ugly.
I need to constantly remind myself of what God expects from me. I need to have an outlet to get my thoughts "out there" so they don't wage a war in my mind! Seeing things in black and white often gives a simple clarity to what is complicated inside your brain. I'm sure that's why so many people keep a diary or journal.
We all have struggles in our lives. There are things that cause all of us worry and pain. Things come up in our day to day lives that we fight and anguish over. Many of us contend with these "demons" on our own- without reaching out to God or our family or friends. These things look different to everyone, but we all have them. Big or small. And we need others. That's why God created Eve. We were not created to be alone. We are made to be social creatures. We were created for relationship. (Which is often times the venue the "demon" uses to rear his ugly head.)
I take comfort in knowing that I'm not alone. It gives me hope to see someone who's has traveled the path before me and has come out on the other side no worse off for the wear. I also take comfort in the Living Word. Reading my Bible today is very different than it was a few years ago. Before, it was like reading words. Now, these words seem to have a life of their own. There's no other way to explain it. It speaks to me wherever I am. It will show up unexpectedly. Sometimes in an email, or someone else's blog, or in a conversation, or in my Bible when I'm searching for something else. The key is that I am in my Bible often. I am looking for what God has to say. I want to hear from Him.
Another way to seek Him is in prayer. Have you ever heard God answer your prayer- like literally hear a voice in your mind? I absolutely believe that God speaks to us. We just have to choose whether or not we listen!
I am at a point in my life where I want to know what God wants for me. So, even though it is difficult at times, I seek Him. The thought of living without Him is more than I can bear. He protects me. He LOVES me. He has a plan for me already that is better than anything I could come up with on my own. And no matter what I may face, I will never have to face it alone.
Another thing that has become important in my life has been finding a Bible believing church and GO-ING! It has made such a difference. Now, I fought church for SO long. I don't know why. Maybe I just hadn't found the right church. That's neither here nor there. The thing is, I had a desire laid upon my heart to find a church where I felt like I was HOME. It took me a while. I attended some pretty good churches along the way. But when I got HOME, I knew it! I felt challenged to grow. I felt eager to go. I am surrounded by people who also love God just like I do. You see, church is not another "rule" we have to "obey". Church is a gift we give ourselves. It's an encouragement to us to continue on a road that gets very narrow and lonely from time to time. When I changed my perception from HAVE to go in order to be a Christian to WANT to go because I am a Christian, a light bulb came on in my soul!
What about you? Have you changed paths like I have- taken the road less traveled? Do you know what God's word says in regards to your life? Do you know that you are walking the path that He designed for you? Or are you compromising? If you want to know for sure, the answers are definitely out there. You just have to look for them in earnest. You don't have to do anything. But, I think, if you search your heart, you just might find that once you change your perception from Have To to Want To, it will all fall a little differently in the grand scheme of things.
I lived my life for so long, content just BE-ing. But, nothing compares to my life now that I have inserted some verbs into my walk. I'm DO-ing. GO-ing. GROW-ing. It's exciting. And hopeful. And the amazing thing is that I've only just begun. If I am at the beginning now, imagine where I'll be later!
"Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land." 1Chronicles 7:14
" 'Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink- even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk- it's all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does not does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!' " Isaiah 55:1-2
1 comment:
Very good my friend. :)
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