Busy Bees

We are such a busy society and we live in such a busy culture. But I think there is a trap in busyness. As Christians, we are to pattern our lives after Jesus. I recently read an article that said, "Jesus would regularly get away and be with God in the secret place. He didn't get filled up by ministry; intimacy with His Father was what replenished Him." (see article here)

I know the stories of Jesus. I know he retreated often to pray. I know He only spoke His Father's words. I know, I know, I know.....Sometimes I think I'm so "familiar" with the Bible that I forget to take these truths to heart. I brush them off without giving them thought and reflection, pondering how I can apply these examples to my own life for my benefit! But for some reason, when I read that phrase, said that way, a light bulb went off in my brain. aka Revelation!

In essence, I saw the relationship and the contrast between being filled up and being poured out. Jesus' whole life was poured out for us as an offering AND He says we can come and drink of the waters of life that He has any.time.we.want. But....we have to make time for that. (see these scriptures)

The story of Mary and Martha comes to mind, found in Luke 10:38-42, amplified translation:

"Now while they were on their way, it occurred that Jesus entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received and welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord's feet and was listening to His teaching. But Martha, overly occupied and too busy, was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me, to lend a hand and do her part along with me! But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion, that which is to her advantage, which shall not be taken away from her."

Now, I would like to take a moment to point something out. Martha had an idea about what Mary should be doing. Oh dear! We are always coming up with good ideas of what we think others should do. This is a form of obligation that we put on other people. I'm willing to bet that if Martha had also sat at the Lord's feet, eventually everybody would have pitched in and it all would've gotten done with great joy and fellowship happening at the same time! I picture lots of laughing and talking while the work was getting done. :)

"My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me caretaker of the vineyards, but I have not taken care of my own vineyard. Tell me, O you whom my soul loves, Where do you pasture your flock?" Song of Solomon 1:6,7 NASB

"My beloved is mine and I am His! He pastures His flock among the lilies." Song of Solomon 2:16 NASB

I don't want to be anxious and troubled about many things, but truthfully, I find myself there a lot. I want to choose the better part in this life. I don't want to let the peer pressure of my society get me so busy that I don't have my priorities straight. My best choice is partaking of Him and drinking deeply. I have to draw away and be fed. And the good news is that He fees us among the lilies, which sounds like a great place to me!

The truth is we make time for what's important to us. We prioritize as we see fit when we should prioritize as He sees fit. Jesus tells us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and everything else will be added to us. I like to think of it like this: If I prioritize Him first into my daily life, everything else will fall neatly into place. THIS is the secret to making YOUR life work!

Here's a few tips, based out of the Word:

(Please keep all things in the perspective that God doesn't "need" anything from us & He's also not staring down at us, knit-picking over every little thing we do or don't do. He is gracious, kind & always working things for our good. We do these things because they help us keep healthy, happy & ultimately lead to our success!)

1) We need to be reading and meditating on the Word of God, daily.

Psalm 1:1-3 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners...But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night.

2) We need time in prayer. Both to speak and to listen. Sometimes we have things on our heart that we have to get off our chest or we will explode! And we won't be able to listen until we unload. On the flip side, it's also important to be still and know that He is God. Ask God for sensitivity to His Holy Spirit to hear what is being said. Often, it comes in the still small voice of a whisper.

Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Lamentations 2:19 Arise, cry aloud in the night watches; Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to Him...

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God! I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!

3) Setting aside time before our day gets going is always helpful. Before the crazy kicks in, it's good for us to get "centered" so to speak.

Psalm 5:3 In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare a prayer, a sacrifice for You and watch and wait for You to speak to my heart.

Bottom Line: I won't have anything I need to give to anybody else, if I don't get replenished in quiet time with the Lord. I have found that putting Him first somehow energizes me to do what I was discouraged about facing today. And don't feel pressured. His mercies are new every morning! The truth is none of us get it right 100% of the time and we can't do ANY of this without His help. So ask! It is good for us to see our need for Him and to depend on Him DAILY.

Invite God into the process of helping you with your schedule. Ask Him for the grace and wisdom to find what works for you and how you can put Him first. Don't get frustrated and quit if it doesn't work perfectly the first time you try. Allow time for tweaking.

And if you are shaking your head at me thinking, "You are crazy lady! If you only knew how much I have going!!!!"....know this: We all have seasons where we feel like things get out of control. Not a single one of us has escaped that. Thank God for grace in difficult seasons. :) Here's the good news: If you ask God for help, He will help you.

~Kim :O)

Therapy

This past week I've gone through some intensely difficult and emotional memories. The Lord has always been faithful to bring things up, in His timing, so I can work through them and find healing, rather than living wounded for the rest of my life.

My current process has been about deep roots of bitterness and resentment. I know I need to forgive, like our Heavenly Father forgives. And it has been a strange experience to have such deep feelings of bitterness, resentment, anger, hatred even while at the same time crying out to God for the help to forgive. I need His help if I’m ever gonna get there. In the midst of the totally wrong heart response, I desire the right and pleasing heart response. In essence, my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak. This is the blueprint of what it looks like to need Him. To be daily dependent upon Him.

TRUTH: God LOVES to forgive so we should too!

This isn't easy to achieve, but it is a goal to aspire to. Something I think may take a lifetime of practice. Forgiveness is a key to unlocking our healing and finding freedom.

~

There is something I really want. I mean, I REALLY want it. For one reason or another I just haven’t been able to achieve or obtain it. I feel entitled to it. And I’ve been dialoguing with the Lord about how I know my feelings of entitlement are wrong. If God wanted me to have it right now, I would. Selah. But in His kindness, He simply asked me “Why?”. Why is this SO important and what would it mean to me to have it? So I started journaling. And in doing so, I was able to let all the feelings seep out onto the page and release them in a healthy manner.

After a few days of self-pity (which always makes pain more painful, and during which the Lord was still kind to me in my wallowing) I got the idea to make a list (I'm a list person!) of my hurts and look for the best in them. He counseled me to look for the blessings within the hurts. Journaling is my friend. I was able to see the good, appreciate it and be thankful. Sincerely thankful. I was able to see His provision and His goodness. And I have taken my thoughts penned down and turned them into prayers.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace that passes understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

I've been asked (not forced) to lay some things down and let go of them. And for my own benefit, not pick them up again. To not look at the hurts anymore but to count the blessings and to see Jesus in them. To keep my eyes fixed on Him, not the disappointments. The decision is mine but I know healing is on the other side. I'm working through. 

Sometimes I pick things up again, turn issues over in my hand and study them further, which can result in all the emotions being stirred up anew. It's a day by day trust exercise to leave things at the feet of Jesus. But God is always gracious and helps me lay it down again so I can continue on to my final destination of true acceptance and forgiveness. 

When all is known and all is forgiven, foundations are strengthened. Peace and rest come. Joy and contentment become my companions.

TRUTH: Letting go and laying down are the processes through which we find joy, peace and contentment.

Dying to self and crucifying the flesh are never fun or easy things to do. Often times they are messy. Things gets ugly as the flesh kicks back. However, if you submit yourself to the process these things yield the greatest results and produce the best fruits in us. Jesus learned obedience through suffering therefore we can too. He is our perfect example.

"Just think of Him who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself (reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials) , so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your own blood." Hebrews 12: 3,4 amplified

All the while He has been confirming to me that He has me right where He wants me and I am right where I am supposed to be. There is even a strategic purpose to where He has me right now and that gives me hope. A perspective change has happened.

~

“I will let all bitterness, indignation, wrath, passion, rage, bad temper, resentment, anger, animosity, quarreling, brawling, clamor, contention, slander, evil speaking, abusive or blasphemous language be banished from me, with all malice, spite, ill will or baseness of any kind. And I will become useful, helpful, kind to others, tenderhearted, compassionate, understanding and loving-hearted, forgiving others readily and freely, as God in Christ forgave me.” Ephesians 4:31-32 amplified - first person confession