Pressed Down (shaken, running)

Ever feel a bit pressed down? How about shaken together? Running over by any chance? Like running away perhaps?

  

Maybe the journey of life shakes our faith going along some paths that we didn't anticipate...there are some promises we have been hanging on to that we didn't get a hands on answer to yet. Or we have confidence shakers speaking into our lives. We might feel like we are settling for something less than God's best. And maybe we are, though sometimes we don't always know God's best even when it stares us in the face because we suffer from the "grass is always greener on the other side" syndrome. And sometimes it is because the journey to the promised land is a journey through some wilderness.

Seems to me I always have to remind myself to be thankful..even when things are going smoothly for a while. You know getting comfortable and forgetting how grateful I am for where God has me. That actually might be a great fertilizer to the grass I don't think is as green as that growing on the other side. And honestly we don't know what has gone on behind the scene to make it so green. It is a whole lot better to be running over with intentional thankfulness, than going natural with frustration, misery and complaining.

                                                                                        

See, I know there are things that are incredibly frustrating and hurtful. Stuff that makes us feel like running away. As fast as we can! Or pray like the Psalmist to have wings like a dove so I could fly away.

 Those days that Calgon just won't do it for me. I am not suggesting to not acknowledge that and try to just pretend those life things are not there. A mom with sick kids can be completely overwhelmed at times. Broken appliances are inconvenient at least. Unexpected bills and a shorter pay check can bring despair. Broken relationships can be devastating.

Those are the times to pull on the Holy Spirit who is given to us to be our Helper...the word is Ezer in the Hebrew text meaning help, aid or sustainer, a person or thing that gives help, relief, aid, etc. as in lifesaver in my time of distress. (which as a side note is what woman is meant to be to man from the time of creation; an Ezer...I found that to be eye opening)

Jesus said "and I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever..." John 14:16

He also said "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all the things I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:26-27

If I were a betting woman, I would bet you thought this was going to be about the verse that tells us to give and it will be given to us pressed down shaken together running over... did you? That dear readers is a writing for another time...remember to pray in the Spirit because scripture tells us He makes intercession for us praying for the things we don't even know we need. And tells us when we pray in the language of the Holy Spirit we strengthen ourselves.
I Corinthians 14:4;  Jude 20

I guess tongues is a touchy issue for some. I am not one to try to dive into topics controversial..but I can't ignore that praying in tongues has been part of my walk with God from the time I gave my life to Him 35 years ago. I happen to also suspect that something God means for our help and strength is also something the devil would try to steer us away from by saying "it's not for today" or "that's from the devil" or "only some people can but not you"...you know things like that..sure I have seen people misuse the gift. But just because someone else drives their car crazy doesn't mean I should not drive. So start your engines and get praying!

Your Heavenly Father gives GOOD gifts. If you are asking Him, He isn't going to slip you something from the father of lies.

Walking on Monday (what I hear on sunday)

The whole idea behind my first Devotional Blog Diapers Dishes and Devotions and then starting this one Walking It Out stemmed from wanting to practically apply the word of God and the love of God (His toward me and mine and toward Him) to everyday living. Sometimes though I seem to hit a bit of a wall. Maybe we could say I might pick and choose what parts to walk when. Or maybe I am just a bit confused on HOW to walk it out. Maybe my kids are sick. Or maybe I am. Or maybe I am continually offended by someone and not knowing what to do with the emotions of that even knowing I am supposed to forgive as I am forgiven. So do my emotions mean I haven't forgiven?

See what I mean?

I remember "counseling" a mom of teen age boys about something when I only had very young toddlers and not only that had never been teen age boy myself! There is something in knowing the word of God is TRUTH because you know and trust that to be so. There is something else when you have lived that truth for your self and your family when life has thrown some stuff at you that looks contrary to the word that says "by His stripes you WERE healed" or looks more like a barren land than the one flowing with milk and honey...though as a mom the milk and honey may be all over our furniture, floors, cars, us and our kids.

You know the Doctor might prescribe something and say take one 3 times a day. Or quit smoking. Or walk 20 minutes a day 3x a week. If I just look at that instruction. If I just look at the doctors handwriting and muse to myself and all who will listen "Look at that Doctors handwriting! Isn't it awful!" But never get it filled and follow instructions, I am probably going to be worse off for that. On the other hand, if I follow instructions and take it fully, I am more likely to get healthy results. And frankly I will probably not even begin to see immediate results. (I am not too sure why I would go to a professional that I trust for something and then decide I know better than they do anyway)



That is a pretty good picture of me and the word of God. What if I just hear the word. What if I am not a doer just a hearer like the book of James says it. What if I happen to read it in the old King James and say "that language! That is so archaic! Who can even understand it?" Then never took the time to follow its instructions. Or attempted to a couple of times but didn't see immediate results so decided "It isn't for today. It doesn't work for me."


What if I tried to potty train my kids just one day and have 5 accidents to deal with? Should I give up trying to direct where they are supposed to go and just assume they won't be in diapers when they are adults and let the process all run its own course?

And I am positive Olympic contestants were pushed and trained and they are not ones who quit at the first sign of pain or opposition.
Now see this woman making contact with the baseball? That is us with the word of God against whatever the enemy of our souls may throw our way. We need to skillfully use Gods promises and knock lies and attacks OUT OF THE PARK. Now I don't know about you but skill with a bat does not come natural to me. In fact I prefer not to play the game. However we really don't get to just tell the devil "um I don't like to play that game. no thanks".

King David before he was ever king, was king in training for a long while. He started as a kid watching the family sheep. During that time he practiced his harp and worshipped. He practiced using his sling shot. He killed a lion and a bear. All this before he approached Goliath. See he took time to know his God. He also took time to develop skill. When He approached Goliath he did not trust in his own strength though he had a measure of it by then. It wasn't his first time to lay hand on a sling shot and he refused to use the armor he was unfamiliar with. He spoke what he believed to Goliath and those who doubted...Who is this uncircumcised Philistine!?! Everyone else thought that Philistine was something..But to David that Philistine was eclipsed by the God Most High Mighty in Battle! And wow, boldly said "THIS DAY the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will smite you and cut off your head" and much more did he say and then he proceeded to do just what he declared that the people would know God does not deliver by sword or spear but the battle was His..

Well how did I end up here from where I started? In general, Sunday sermons are not just for Sunday. It is part of getting equipped for life there but one time a week in the word and prayer only goes so far. We need to take time to know God ourselves in our day to day life. Let's take the Gos-pill,if you will, on a regular basis according to instructions, meditating on it day and night that it may go well with us and we would have favor and good understanding. No problems? No, I won't promise that, but far less problems and the way to overcome them.