Detour

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:15

It had been a great day, everything on my “to do” list had been accomplished, things were in order and the sun was out after a week of cloudy, cold weather. I sat content and patiently in the carpool line at preschool for my son ready to kiss him and give him my full attention as he told me about his day at school. Then he got in the car and it was like I had hit a bump in the smooth road I had been on all day. Detour!

My son started in immediately about how someone in his class had laughed at him, how terrible it was, he should have gotten in trouble, it hurt my feelings. . . . it went on and on. I tried to explain to my son that sometimes people laugh with us – not at us and in the situation he was describing I knew this was the case, but there was no convincing him. He dwelled on it all the way home, all afternoon, told his sister about it as soon as we picked her up from school and by the time my husband got home from work he was still in a knot about it. He just couldn’t let it go. No matter how I explained it, how much we discussed it and rationalized it he WOULD NOT forgive or let go.

My son had allowed that situation to ruin his day, my day, his sister’s day and our entire evening. I thought of all the times I had been in a situation like this. Times when I had allowed a circumstance, harsh word, misunderstanding or situation to ruin my entire day and the day of those around me. Why do we do this? Why can’t we see beyond the situation and realize that when we do that, we give the situation or person a power over us that we shouldn’t. They plant a seed of bitterness in us and then we water the seed, give it sunshine, fertilizer and allow it grow instead of recognizing it for the weed that it is and pulling it out of our hearts and minds so it can’t infiltrate our hearts and minds.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31

The truth is, the main reason we allow the person or event to have this power over us is because we don’t take it to God. We can’t do it without Him, but with Him WE CAN. He can give us the grace, strength, courage and power we need to forgive, dismiss and pull the weed of bitterness out before it has time to take root in our day, our relationships, or our lives. But, we have to ASK Him for help. He is there on the sidelines waiting for an invitation. Will you ask for His help? Will you knock so the door will be opened to you? Will you seek so that you may find?

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Trash

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

A  “not so fresh” smell had taken over my car. There was no more ignoring it or covering it up with air freshener. So, while getting gas I decided it was time to clean out the trashcan I keep in the back seat for the kids. Whew! If you have ever been a mom or had kids in your car for any length of time you can imagine all the things that came out of that trashcan. Some recognizable and some NOT!

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

Repentance is vital in our walk with God. Daily repentance. If our hearts go uncleaned we can start acting “not so fresh” ourselves. Attitudes, anger, restlessness, regret or whatever else you have left rotting in your heart can permeate your life and the lives of those around you. Ignoring it won’t work. Covering it up won’t work. Well, it might for a little while, but eventually you won’t be able to stand yourself or worse, others won’t want to be around you.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

The good news is that just like that trashcan in my car, we can empty out the trash we’re  holding in our hearts EVERYDAY! God is waiting for us to drop it off at His feet, accept His love, His forgiveness and His grace. His great love for us is a mystery to me. I don’t understand it, but it is real and available to us if we just ask.

GodChick’s L-O-V-E! L – let it go, O – on their knees, V – very passionately, E – every day!

It’s an Honor

My salvation and my honor depend on God^; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Psalm 62:7

“It’s an honor to meet you. —– It’s my honor to host this event for you. —— It’s an honor to be in your presence. —– I’m doing this in honor of  . . . .”

Most of us have either heard or said one of the above statements. The word honor (verb) means to hold in honor or high respect;  to revere. Who is it that you honor? Who do you have a high respect for? Who do you revere? Is there someone on the list above God?

Sometimes, I struggle with the direction or situation that God has chosen for me. Whether it’s financial, personal, professional or spiritual. I question. I argue. I dismiss. I disregard. I ignore. It’s frustrating. It’s not the plan I had in mind. It’s not easy. It’s too scary. Does any of this sound familiar or I am alone in all of this?

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Corinthians 7:1

However, when I stop to consider all the good, the wisdom, the love and the growth our God wants us to experience all my feelings turn to shame and repentance. For our God does know what’s best. His ways are good and His sight is above our sight. When it isn’t our choice, we sometimes find it difficult to honor God’s choices and direction for us, but when we submit to His will and thankful for His blessings He rewards us.

Our honor and reverence should be for HIM! It’s an honor to serve you, Father. It’s an honor to welcome you into my heart, Lord. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to sit at your feet and experience your forgiveness and grace. It’s an honor to accept this great love you have for me. It’s an honor to know that you know me by name. It’s an honor to experience this pain so I can grow in you and draw closer to you.

Father, It’s an honor to know You and have the opportunity to share You with others. Thank you for this honor.

Is it your honor?

But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. Psalm 130:4

Soothe Your Soul

I LOVE worship music. There is nothing that puts my heart and mind at rest and readies it for worship more than music.

Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 1 Chronicles 16:9

So today, I send you the gift of song. Karl Moraski, the worship leader at my church (Hope Community) wrote this song. It’s called I Heard You Whisper In the Wind. I have shared the lyrics with you before, but I now have the music and video. I pray it touches your heart as it has mine.  You can find out more about Karl and his music at www.karlssongs.net.

http://www.youtube.com/user/karlmoraski#p/a/u/0/tj78zesuZLQ

Hub

My phone rang. It was my Dad. Mom was out of town and he needed to know where he was supposed to go to order his tuxedo. My husband beeped in to check our schedule for Saturday so he could make plans. A little while later, I received an e-mail from a friend asking my opinion about a bible study she was interested in. My son walks in, “Mommy, where is my remote control car?” Well, you get the idea. If you are a mom, wife, daughter, sister or friend you probably know how it feels to be the “go to” girl. Our minds have to run like a central command center.

Hub is defined as “a center around which other things revolve or from which they radiate; a focus of activity, authority”. God’s place is our lives should always be front and center! He should be in the middle of all we do, all we think and all we plan. But, when my life becomes a hub of activity and to do lists, God is pushed out of His place in the center or middle of my life. He often gets pushed to the back or side. It takes effort, time, devotion, trust and grace on my part to put God back into His rightful place in my life.

How do we know God wants to be in the middle or center of our lives?

In Genesis, where was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?

And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9

Where did God instruct Joshua to have the Israelites collect the 12 stones for the memorial to the people of Israel?

So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. Joshua 4:8

In Revelations, where is the Lamb located on the throne?

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17

Notice these things didn’t happen on the sidelines or in the back! The references to God being in the center and middle throughout the Bible astound me. I encourage you to continue digging into the scriptures to find more.