Get UN-Comfortable

     Picture, if you would, a large, overstuffed chair nestled in a quiet corner of peacefulness -- now imagine settling yourself into its encompassing down-filled pillows.  Let your head lean back, feel your eyes close but before you fall asleep . . . STOP.

     Stand up and ask just one question, "God, do I need to rest in this moment or do I need to become UN-comfortable?"

     The old saying -- Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable -- has its value and place when it comes to creating healthy balance in our lives and taking care of ourselves.  BUT if I am honest with myself I would choose that puffy, comfy chair EVERY time. 

     I need to pull back and restore, just like the next person BUT I can't stay in that place.

     God has much more for you and me to do than to rest in fluffy chairs, but somehow the world may have us mildly convinced that this is what we were created for.  I challenge us to shake off that urge to stay in these commodious places and look around -- what is God doing in our world, right where we are?

     Something that would stretch us out of our comfy spot?  It might be . . .

•      Taking a meal to someone who is sick, even though our life may feel busy right now?
•      Telling someone about God's love for them, even if it puts us out of our comfort zone?
•      Giving our husband a back rub, even though we are exhausted?
•      Volunteering to teach Sunday School, even though we would rather sit in the service?
•      Showing love to one of our chidlren, even though they are undeserving today?

     I don't know what UN-comfortable looks like for you, but I know what it looks like for me.  That's because God has unique opportunities for each of us that can't be duplicated by another -- and that's why it's so vital that each of us hear directly from God, what He has for us to do. 

     But sometimes we can't hear the assignments, because of how strong our affection is for the comfy spot.

     So if you are up for the challenge . . . catch the rest you need, then shake off the urge for "permanent comfy" and tell God that you are available.  Just wait and see what He does.  Maybe a good place to start is that great prayer of Jabez.  Just cry out to God . . .

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil."

(I Chronicles 4:10)

I am a Mist

I love fresh starts...second tries...new beginnings, and every year I feel the same excitement as I look ahead to all that the coming year may hold.  But I also experience quiet reflection as I look back on the year just completed and think through what I am glad for and what I wish I had done differently.  The one thing I am sure of, is my appreciation of God's grace on my life .  God has said that even though there is sorrow in the night, joy comes in the morning.  That is what the new year feels like for me - even though there may be sorrow for some of what has been, there is joy for the newness - another chapter waiting to be written.

As I reflect on these thoughts, God has brought to my heart the reminder of how little time we have here on earth to live for Him, and it stirs within me a desire to use each moment for His glory and purposes.  We find in James 4:14 a picture of this, "What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."  The same chapter also explains the importance of understanding that we don't know what tomorrow will hold and our calling is to do the "good" we know we should do.  I feel that I hold life very carefully - it may be because my dad died suddenly in a drowning accident when he was only 31 or it may just be a God given awareness, but I have always sensed that life is a fragile gift and our job is to make the most of each moment we have.  If we are but a mist then we do not know when we will vanish, but we are called to do the "good" that God has planned for us to do.

What if you don't feel you know what the "good" is for your life?  Take some quiet reflection time (come on, you can carve it out if you really grasp that this is eternal purposes we are talking about) and ask the Lord to show you what He wants you to focus on this year.  Don't look for something complicated, the answer may come in a whisper of...simplicity, time with your family, less activity, care for a hurting friend, love towards a certain neighbour.  Start with obedience to the first thing that God brings and you will likely find that as you step out and do that "one good thing", He will bring the next thing to mind. 

It is us, not God, that complicates this life we are trying to live.  He only expects us to take one day at a time and walk out obediently in the direction He brings.  Don't be worried that our lives are passing as a mist; be glad we have been forewarned, and use that awareness to value each moment accordingly.  Make this year of "mist" a purposeful, joy-filled year.

Overwhelming Moments

There are just moments in life that are going to overwhelm us.  Therefore, the question can't be how do we get rid of these moments, but how do we deal with them when they come and gain the perspective that God would want us to have? 

Does it ever amaze you how overwhelming certain moments can be?  These moments are not always related to parenting - although that certainly offers some good opportunities for them - but sometimes life is just plain overwhelming!  Because we have learned that to be true, it would seem that we would have a plan in place for when these moments come, but often that does not seem to be the case. 

It makes me think of when people have had the opportunity to experience a large disaster up close.  Whether it be snowstorm, tornado or flood - anything that has the power to temporarily alter the way we live, what is the reaction to that experience?  It is to go out and over-prepare for the mere possibility that it could happen again, isn't it?  It may be stocking up on water, flashlights, batteries, food; or fixing a part of our house that we should have long ago - whatever it is, the purpose is so that we are not caught unprepared again.  How interesting is it then, that if we know there is not just a slim possibility of overwhelming moments, but a guarantee of them, still many of us do not have a "plan" set in place for when we face those storms of life.

If we were to make a plan, what would it include?  For me, first, it is knowing that overwhelming moments will come and that they are part of life.  As simple as that sounds, when I know that what I am going through is "normal", it makes it much easier for me to endure.  Jesus warned us in John 16:33, "In this world you WILL HAVE trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  We need to recognize that although our moments may look different than the next person's moments, they are still similar in their affect of being overwhelming - it really is just part of the journey.

The second part of my plan is to know that I know, before that storm or moments hits, that the God of this universe is ALWAYS in control.  I have purposed to have scripture and knowledge of WHO God is deep inside of me, because during a storm is NOT the time to be evaluating where our hope should be placed.  Once we really know that, then we will want to go to Him during these hard or overwhelming moments...it says in Psalms 62:5&8 says, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him...He is my fortress, I will not be shaken...Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."  God is fully available to us in all times of trouble.

The last part of my plan consists of knowing that God has purpose in what He is allowing me to go through, and that He is using it to shape me and mold me, for His good.  The Bible says Romans 8:28 that, "We know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."  He knows far better than I, what areas I need to be shaped in.  If it were left up to me to choose, I am sure 9 times out of 10, I would choose the easier path with the sunshine and flowers - nice view, but not a place for real growth.  He gives us those moments too, but I think of them as opportunities to rest and be refreshed for the moments that He needs to grow me more in.

God always has our best in mind!  The Bible tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from Him, but just as we cannot give into every whim our children have because we know it is not what would help them grow; so God, in much greater perfection can see what is best for us and is growing us accordingly.  Find out WHO He is and then you will be ready to trust Him in your overwhelming moments, and call on Him to carry you through.  He wants to and He will!