RESTLESSNESS

     Restlessness.

     As your eyes glance over the word, do you find you've shifted in your seat already?  Does it cause you to feel flutters of caution inside?  None of us like to experience restlessness, and yet it seems unavoidable at times -- what's important is what we do with those feelings.


     Restlessness can come upon us furiously, like a tidal wave out of the ocean or it can creep up on us almost silently, till we look around and wonder how we came to feeling the way we do.

     It may be the job we're in seems to call out for freshness, or harder yet, the job we're not in calls out to pull us from the home and place us back in the workplace.  Reasons abound.

     Sometimes change is demanded of us, but often, we thrust change upon ourselves because of our restlessness.

     While one looks at change as a reason for the turmoil of restlessness, another will look at looming sameness with the same emotions of a caged lion.  We're created differently but most of us can relate to the chords within that are struck and cause us to itch wildly on the inside.

     What are we to do, when, not if, these feelings come?  Only one solution can be true -- we must press in to the only One who knows us completely, Father God who created us.  He alone has the answers for which our souls so restlessly search.

     As we look ahead to a whole new year, let's carefully lay out our restlessness and examine it as a doctor would a sickly child.  Take time.  Pray.  Ask the Lord what He has for us in the new year, not just inform Him of what we plan to do.

     God can use restlessness in our lives to draw us closer to Himself and do wonderful things in us and around us, but if we don't allow these stirrings to be used for that good, then there are many a dangerous path we could stumble down in the days ahead without the direction of our Father who loves us.

     Let us not be as the scriptures describe in Deuteronomy 28, where the people refused to listen to the voice of the Lord and couldn't find a place to rest.  It says no home could be found nor could they settle down...God gave them a restless heart, longing eyes and a homesick soul because they would not let God lead them.

     Find a quiet place and release your restlessness.  Peacefully wait and ask the Lord to bring His direction to your decisions.  To shed His light on a dark and windy path -- He has promised that when we seek Him, He WILL make our paths straight.  Then we can go into a new year with the confidence and rest that only He can bring.

"Now may the Lord of Peace

Himself give you peace at

all times and in every way."

II Thessalonians 3:16

IT STARTS WITH US

     Are you feeling it, too?  The hustle, the bustle, the rush that God never intended us to drown under this time of year.

     Interesting that Jesus came to bring PEACE to earth and yet it remains one of the hardest things to hold on to as we prepare to celebrate His birth.  It's as if we can watch it slip through our fingers as we hurry from store to store.

     Isn't it just like the enemy to try to steal from us, especially at this season, the gift of peace that Jesus came to bring?  Do you know that we have to fight to receive it?  It doesn't arrive packaged under our tree each year, without some very intentionally choices on our part.

Is there an easy solution? 

A wand that we can wave to make life fall into simple order for the season?  

A way to bring the peace back into our days before Christmas?

     Well, yes and no, but it is possible!  It's found in putting Jesus first regardless of how long our lists of "things-to-do" grow long. 

     The Bible tells us The Word became flesh and dwelt among us!  That is Jesus Christ, Son of God -- with skin on -- came to earth as a baby.  Ironically, the reason for the rushing rests heavily in that phrase.  Do you hear the hope?

     I know, that still doesn't get your lists ticked off to completion, so how does it really help?

     When our hearts focus on Jesus and we begin our days in His presence, we are fed.  We are nourished, strengthened and equipped for every good work -- even shopping, cleaning and Christmas baking!  BUT we have to get the order right!

     Remember the song, Let There Be Peace on Earth?  Do you remember who the peace was supposed to start with?  Here are a few of the words ~

     Let there be peace on earth,

     And let it begin with _____ (WHO?) me (OUCH!),

     Let there be peace on earth

     The peace that was meant to be...

     Let this be my solemn vow.

     To take each moment

     And live each moment

     With peace eternally.

     Let there be peace on earth,

     And let it begin with me.

   

     It's not too late, my sweet friends, to make that same solemn vow.  In our homes, peace genuinely can and should begin with us, as moms!!!  

     I have a little plaque in my room that is just for me.  It says, "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"  It serves as my daily reminder that my attitude greatly affects our entire household and I take that very seriously.

     More than any other season, I want our children to remember the joy and happiness that centered around the celebration of our Saviour's birth, NOT the stress and the grumpiness. 

     I hate to say it, moms, but it does begin with us!  And that means it begins with God and His Word. 

     If we surrender our mornings, despite all the decorations and tinsel that are yelling for us to put them first, we will find Jesus meeting us there and giving us everything we need to make this season truly peace-ful and joy-ful!  His Word is always proven true -- with Him we can do anything, even Christmas.

"I (Jesus) am the vine;

you are the branches.

If you remain in me and I in you,

you will bear much fruit."

John 15:5