Feast, Fast (or famine)

Something about scarcity can make a thing more valuable. Take gold for instance. We wear bits of it and it has value but in heaven we will walk on it since the streets are made of it. We don't treasure asphalt (unless it is missing from our streets) but never enough to pay to wear it.

The feasting we are fortunate enough to participate in for most people in our country, allows us to enjoy lots of our favorite things whether it is food or fun or ability to be working to earn the means to get those things.

I think that the idea of fasting something is that it has value to us but we want to show
that the thing we are intentionally fasting from is less valuable than what we are fasting for. Like to hear from God more clearly on a matter. And maybe the time I would be spending eating would be spent praying for others or meditating on God's words to me from His book.
But sometimes I fast from the wrong thing like fresh reading of His word. Don't get me wrong, remembering and thinking on his word is good and something to be doing, but really I don't like eating stale food when it comes to what I am putting in my mouth. I need to freshen it up even as much as I like to eat leftovers for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

 


Kind of like when we pray give us this day our daily bread...Jesus being the bread of life is what I need daily...remember He is the word of God so meeting with Him in His book and in prayer feeds me on a deeper level that affects all of me... 
And now that I think about it more, fixing a good meal to enjoy just takes some time and effort. I love reading but reading a novel, reading how to or informational books even books about the Bible all take little effort for me. There is something different about the Bible. It engages me on so many levels. It is not just a book. It is what God tells us it is...Words he was inspiring men to write...words that are a discerner of my heart (yikes!), a two edged sword, Spirit and LIFE, a mirror, bread, a light and lamp, a revealer of WHO GOD WAS, IS and WILL be, who WE are and more...yeah a lot going on when reading that book...it is more effort than a novel.

Then there is famine. I have not ever experienced famine. There are times I have had scarcity of some things and that was hard for me but true famine never. That happens in many places in the day we live in which is why relief efforts are established to participate in. When times were tight for us, I would remind God of His word that I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his children begging for bread. I knew I was not righteous on my own scale of good things but because I believe He gave His life to make me that way. Or I would remind Him of the time He multiplied the few loaves and fish from a little boys lunch for feeding thousands and surely I could trust Him to take what I had and make it enough for the 10 of us.

But the Bible tells us of times of famine. There were 400 years of no one hearing from God before Jesus was born...that is a famine of His word. Apparently "we don't know what we've got til it's gone" as the old song goes. And then in the FULLNESS of time God sent His Son Jesus, Immanuel (meaning God With Us). He showed up not just as a whisper in a prophets heart to be spoken aloud. But in that baby's cry, as the Word of God made flesh dwelling among us, born of a Virgin, in a stable in Bethlehem (which means house of bread. Interesting the bread of life would be born in the house of bread!)


Make time to hang out at His table this season. He loves you and wants to BE WITH YOU.

Rolling Eyeballs (and porcupines)

When did this happen to me? How did this activity sneak in? Lately I have caught myself rolling my eyes!!! And the worst thing is that it is at things my husband would suggest or ask! Wow! Have I been doing this all along but only now become aware of it?



I have noticed that since we began Walking It Out Marriage Counseling I seem to have escalated in undesirable behavior... but maybe it really is that I feel more accountable, more visible...just plain and simple more aware.

I realized the other day when I was behaving in an EGR manner (Extra Grace Required) that sometimes the pressure is on when a new endeavor begins. Add to that a number of disruptive crisis type circumstances with several that seem ongoing, coupled with fatigue quite possibly created by said circumstances and the tendency is to become a porcupine with rolling eyes type personality. All meant to keep people at a distance and hide myself though not consciously doing so. For instance I do not think a porcupine thinks about putting its quills out nor does a skunk think hard and long before letting loose with that marked Peppy Le Pew fragrance. It is automatic when perceived danger is on. In my case being asked to do one or several more things has the effect of danger I guess.

 
 
 
 
 
 



 
 



 
 
 
Now this is a cute little porcupine. But get a full grown one upset and beware! They can inflict quite a bit of damage!
So I don't have quills to speak of, but I do have a tongue and body language that can be damaging and even more long lasting. Yikes!

I am not excusing my behavior really, just being aware that it is happening and that it indicates change is needed. Not just catching my rolling eyeballs as they are making an escape, but changing a few things in life that I may be saying yes to that I should say no to. Not adding new things and more new things on top of all the already there things. Some of the already there things need to be let go of or rearranged. It's a song sung by many who are time management people. It is wisdom really.

Can I just point out to you who have had babies or been in on a delivery that when in the transition stage of childbirth, everything else is set aside to get that baby born!  Think about it.There is a plan to have the other kids watched, your place at work handled, meals brought in, a room prepared, extra people to assist which can all COST something mind you and still the process is intense even while it brings about a glorious result. So why would I not practice that with other things in my life that require quantities of my attention?

Just as practical and helpful is real communication about how something is affecting me. And then if my behavior calls for it, a very sincere apology. Not just shooting off a quick sorry for poking them with sharp "quill" like stuff either. Sincerity...Because humbling myself to the one who was recipient of my porcupine behavior, usually is stabbing my pride, which is not pleasant. But it bears that  fruit of repentance in my life and others around me which is pleasant.

If you see me running I am may be trying to catch run away eyeballs...you can help me...keep me accountable...catch them and hand them back...with no condemnation please...just a gentle smile will do. Hopefully this is a habit broken by this public confession of sorts...

Have a blessed weekend!

Coasting (is never uphill for very long)

Who doesn't love the exhilaration of coasting downhill especially after an uphill climb? I even think I might I feel like I have earned the coast and want to take full advantage of it. Eventually though the bike, car, skateboard or what ever wheel type used at the moment runs out of power. It may even have enough of an edge to get me a start on the uphill in front of me or if no hill is there get me a decent stretch on the straight way but will not take me far.
Movement to be productive is intentional. Getting further ahead in life. Moving in the life God sets before me is an intentional choice. The law of entropy is the law that things tend to disorder rather than naturally fall into order. Anyone alive can see that by trying to take care of a living space!
What I found out  was this: I was coasting on past knowledge and past experience with God. But I didn't catch on to that until I was required to step it up a bit by a daily Bible reading schedule to get me through the Bible in a year. Go figure! A Bible College wanting us to read the Bible diligently, daily, not just in a bite size verse a day.
Over 35 years of being a Christian I had packed in a lot of scripture and sermon material and teaching and devotional reading. That is all good as far as it goes. Over the 50 plus years of living I have also packed in plenty of food of various kinds but it seems my body requires more and is a real baby about it if I even indicate I will be skipping a meal or two.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered how much of the Word of God I had forgotten when I reluctantly began trying to meet this requirement. Yes I was a bit prideful actually not thinking this much daily reading was necessary or even do-able. The high of an awesome worship service and ministry time at church or a conference works a lot like a birthday party. So fun. So great. Many highlights and memories.
But that only takes us so far. Life needs maintenance in all kinds of ways that are not all fun but important just the same to keep it running well and heading toward the goals God gives us.
There is a scripture that is ringing around in me today that I had forgotten about and came up in my reading this week. It seems to fit what I am talking about.

If you have run with the foot men and they have wearied you, how then can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace in which you have trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan? Jeremiah 12:5

If our strength is small contending with the small issues of life (and I do know there are wearisome issues but we have the Lord Almighty who is powerful and loves us and says He gives us power to overcome all the power of the enemy)...so if we are contending with smaller albeit difficult things in life and having a difficult time standing, HOW can we stand when life seems to fall apart if we have not been eating and exercising not only physically but spiritually? When life is tough and it takes all to maintain is the time we need a reserve built in us already to give us the power move us ahead, not coast to a stop.

Do you know what that place between the two sides of a hill is? A valley. It is hard to see a future in the valley. So fill up your spirits gas tank so you can get up the other side and to the place where you can see again.



This link will take you to some options for Bible reading Schedules. I will be honest I needed accountability and a schedule. There are some portions of scripture I would not have purposely read on my own. I was just too hit and miss with Bible reading not knowing where to begin or just picking a place to read or reading something about the Bible and leaving it at that. Honestly some days I do still miss or miss part of the days reading but I try to catch it back up if possible. This is not about rules, regulations and religion so no beating myself up over it. It is about feeding on the Word of Life.
So the link:
http://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-reading-plan/

Blessings! Lea

Monday Morning (melody making)

Eyeballing a sink of weekend dishes waiting to be cleaned before 6:00 am, I opened the dishwasher to see it full of the miscellaneous little things, among larger things, waiting to be sorted and put in their places. Where they will wait until they can be used again, to be washed again, to be put away again, to wait to be used again and so on. That put a bit of a pause in me. I still have not tackled it because I don't need any of it immediately because frankly I am blessed enough to have more than enough kitchen stuff to get by and create more dirty dishes.



I have written about conquering mountains of dishes in the past and even though it sounds like I am headed there again, I'm not. Mainly its pots and pans in the sink for now.

So I reminded myself that 16 years ago with a newborn infant and all her siblings ranging up to age 17, I was very sick with something that could have killed me instantly or left me a quadrapeligic unable to do dishes for the family AT ALL. Unable to make meals for them to create dirty dishes AT ALL. But for the touch of God. Now I don't flog myself with that reminder, and neither do I insanely rush to the task with that reminder. But I do put things into perspective with it.



I went about the makings of a Monday morning grateful for the sounds around me from the tasks causing them. The hum and clink of the dryer and clothes tossing around with zippers from a sweatshirt tapping the inside drum. Thankful to have clothes for my family and the ability to keep them clean. Thankful to have a family to clean up after. Thankful to have a home to clean (even though my version of clean may differ from what my fantasy version of clean is.)

The sound of the knife slicing fruit and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for school lunch and the sound of the bagel popping up in the toaster. The wind outside and the hum of the amish heater. Footsteps coming down the hall and down the stairs signaling my family getting ready to leave for their days at school and office. It's the music we don't usually think of as music but making a melody in my heart even so. The music of my monday morning. 

 God bless your day with the music of the ordinary today..