Carrying the Weight of the Groceries…and the World.

Went to the grocery store last week, it was just an average trip but boy, was it cold! With that in mind, I decided that I needed to make as few trips as possible into the house. SO I decided to make one trip…I piled and spaced the plastic bags up my arms and on each finger. I was determined. Finally, I looped my small suitcase sized purse (in other words, my very large purse) over my last finger and headed to the door.

The first problem was to get the sliding door of the van closed…with much shoving, pushing and “foot tactics” I was able to get the door shut. Up the steps and to the door- literally arms extended, every muscle and finger strained and feeling like I was dying, I tottered. Really, this is not JUST a case of being out of shape; it was just a really bad plan- way too much stuff! No joke, my fingers were pinched and hurt for an hour!

Needless to say, I looked burdened and heavy-laden, which I was. Frankly, I looked like an over zealous idiot! It wasn’t until I realized that I didn’t have a plan to get the house door open that it hit me. This is what my life feels like, more often than I care to admit. It can feel like I’m carrying everything, in one trip. I can be heavy with life, with worry, with stress, with the lack of control- heavy with everything, even good things! Are you hearing me? It hit me, as I had to PUT DOWN all the groceries…

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy- laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

What a lesson to learn and re-learn. How’s it going carrying the weigh of the world and all the groceries? It’s not a great plan. Lay down your burdens; exchange them for His light load. He already carried it all.

Eating Peanut Butter on a Rice Cake, in the Car, on a Snowy Day...

Eating peanut butter on a rice cake, in the car, on a snowy day...that is how my morning started. I was on my way to teach class this morning and I usually eat my breakfast in the car (yes, I am always late and multitasking). This morning was no exception. Except, I choose a rice cake and it was a very snowy day. Driving slowly and carefully and eating my peanut butter rice cake. Not a good scenario. Why you might ask? Well, rice cakes are... how shall we say...rather crumbly. And as I'm driving and eating my rice cake, crumblies (is that a word?) are falling all around. I was rather distracted by this...I hope you seeing my dilemma, on a snowy day.

Silly? Yes, I know. But I do have a point, really. I had to literally tell my self, "Let the crumblies go!" (I spoke to myself in my head...I'm not totally crazy!) I can deal with the mess later, when I'm safe and not driving on a snowy day. So I did just that and made it to Bible Study just fine and on time. Whew. The crumblies got taken care of and all was well.

Does life ever throw you a few "crumblies"? At a particularly difficult time or place...or "inclement weather" season of life? Can you relate to being totally sidetracked with cleaning up the "crumblies"...in turn, putting real serious issues at risk? Do you need to hear the words;"Let it go". There are so many things in my everyday life that I really need to treat as a "crumblie". I need to let them go...they will be there later. So few things really last and so much is at stake.

When God says "No"...

Has God said "No" to you on any particular issue lately? I have recently had a confirmed "No" from the Lord and honestly, I'm learning to be grateful. I thought I would be devastated but I wasn't. I'm learning that "No"s are not all bad...yes, it has taken me 40 years to discover that! That doesn't mean we always like it or enjoy the "No" but we can trust God and then, even in the "No"...

Psalm 37:3-5, "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it."

Trust, Do, Dwell, Cultivate, Delight, Commit, and more Trust...all verbs. All surrounding "getting" the desires of our heart. How does a "No" from the Lord work into this? Well, when I receive a "No", I'm tempted to drop in a heap and stop...Trusting, Doing, Dwelling, Cultivating, Committing and so on. My tendenacy is lack of faith in the midst of a "No".

He is good and He is God and He is actively and accurately designing a change in our desires. He is enough. Am I desiring Him, even in the "No"? Am I dropping in a spiritual heap to throw a spiritual fit? Sometimes. Today, though, I'll choose to thank Him for the "No" and continue to Trust, Do, Dwell, Cultivate, Delight and then Trust some more...

A New Year...

Can you believe it? 2009, another New Year. Where does the time go? I've been reflecting on 2008 and trying not to "look" too far into 2009- a general problem I have. I like guarantees, I want the promise that this year holds only wonderful things. What do you feel as you "look" into this New Year? Hope? Fear? Certainty? Uncertainty? Faith? Or, like me, all of the above and then some?

Proverbs 31:25 " Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future."

Honestly, that seems to sting a little...ok, a lot. I'm not so sure I'm smiling at the future and strength and dignity? I think my holiday pounds are causing me to not fit into that clothing, right now! LOL.

Where am I going to find the strength and the dignity to wear for the smiling at the future part of the New Year? 2008 left me exhausted...unless. Unless. Yes, that is it. It is His Strength. His Dignity or should I say my identity in Him, that gives me dignity, that I need to wear- holiday pounds or not!

Proverbs 31:30 "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."

2009 a New Year...trusting, revering the One who is Redeeming. Trusting the One who is the Strength and who always smiles at the future. Happy New Year. May our eyes be on Him this year, no matter what the year brings.