Fill Me Up

I love my life and all the great people I get to share it with. There are long periods of time where everything is going great and life couldn't be better.  Then there are those rare moments when I feel like I'm being suffocated and choked by all that's going on in my life. 

I feel like this is one of those rare times when I just want to escape.  Get away from my responsibilities, stress and expectations.  I don't want anyone to depend on me for anything.  No cooking, cleaning, working, planning, teaching!

I want to sleep in late,  lounge around in my pajamas, not brush my hair, eat whatever I want.  Text messages, emails, phone calls can be put on hold.  I want to soak in a bubble bath for an hour or two and not have anyone knocking down the door.

How lovely it would be to just sit quietly on a beach reading,  listening to music.  Walking a trail and taking in the beauty that God created sounds nice.  

For a few days, it's my desire to be carefree,  no time limits,  no responsibilities or expectations from others. Just me and the Lord.

I am running on empty.  Lord, please fill me up til I overflow.

Eyes Watching

I have a 15 month old niece, Camryn, who absolutely loves to worship the Lord.  Her worship is so pure and genuine; it's such a refreshing sight to see.  On Sunday mornings, I purposely tell my sister to wait until after the devotional is over to take her to the nursery because I just love to see her enthusiasm and joy in worshipping our Savior.

This past Sunday was no different.  Camryn lifts her hands in the air in adoration, she tries to sing the songs and her whole body moves to the rhythm of the music.  It's intense, deep, intentional praise.  After a few moments, I turn away and envelope myself in my own personal intimate time with the Lord. Time passes and the devotional is slowly coming to an end, I open my eyes and in that very moment, through my peripheral vision, I catch her gazing at me.  I am not sure how long she was staring but I was taken by surprise.  "She was watching me", is all I could think to myself.  She was observing, intently at how I praised.

This had me thinking about my life and my actions as a Christian.  I didn't understand until right then the effect my actions have on others and their walk with Christ. Of course, I have children of my own and I am teaching them the ways of the Lord and I do my best to lead by example but this hit me like a ton of bricks. Camryn made me realize that when I least expect it there is someone observing and learning. There is someone relying on me to teach them how to worship, praise and honor the King of Kings. Therefore, I have to make sure that I am continuously, day after day, living a life pleasing unto God.  My aim daily should be to do the will of my Heavenly Father and rely on His Word to produce the Fruit of the Spirit in my life and in the life of others. Then without a doubt I will know that my actions are not causing my brother or sister to stumble.  On the contrary, just like little Camryn, they learn that a life of adoration is a life of joy.

Those who love their brothers and sisters live in the light, and there is nothing in them that will make them do wrong.  1 John 2:10

You are loved

 

 

My husband gives me the best greeting cards. He has a gift for picking the perfect card with the most beautiful words and heartfelt sentiment. I can just picture him in the store reading 5 or 6 cards before he finds the "perfect" one.  They truly make me feel special.  So, needless to say,  I keep all the cards stored nicely in a decorative hat box.

 

I know most people keep them displayed for all to see for a short while and then toss them in the trash, because eventually the card in a sense becomes useless to keep around.  I, however, have a reason for tucking my cards away.

 

Life happens and we get lonely; we have struggles in our marriages and relationships; challenges with our health or finances and we allow  those few bad  moments to define our lives and we begin to lose hope and begin to let love die.  Love for our spouse, family, friends, work, and in some cases we start not even loving ourselves.

 

But that's when I go to my hat box and pull out those cards. As I read those beautiful heartfelt words on the page, I'm reminded that I am loved and there is hope. I'm not alone.

 

Many times we struggle that way in our spiritual life. We feel like God doesn't hear our prayers or that we're fighting our battles alone. Things seem to get worse before they get better.  We may even feel like the Lord doesn't even love us.   I encourage you to pull out that hat box called the Bible and read those beautiful heartfelt words that the Lord has written for you.  Don't let those promises and words become useless and just toss them away. Let Him remind you that you are loved, there is hope and you are not alone.

 

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Celebrate today!

Sunday evening comes around and the first thought for many is, "I can't wait until Friday"! The countdown to the weekend has already begun. The stress and troubles of the week and all it entails are already weighing us down. Work, school , grocery shopping, laundry, doctor appointments, cooking, cleaning, dance practice, football practice and the list goes on and on!  It's as if the weekends are the only days looking forward to; the only days worth celebrating.

In January we are making preparations for our vacation in July, in July we plan for a birthday party in October, in October we are looking forward to Christmas! Why are we living only for the weekend; only for those "special" moments.

There are no laws or rules that say we can't celebrate everyday. In fact, scripture instructs us otherwise.  This is the day the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24  If Monday comes around and you want to go to a movie, go!  If, it's Tuesday and you want to go on a picnic, pack up that basket and blanket and go! Rainy days could be a great day for ice cream sundaes too.

Don't get me wrong, we should dream and plan for the future.  But let's stop looking past today. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised.  All we have is this day, this moment and we should make the best of it and enjoy it while it lasts.  Let's not get so caught up in tomorrow that we don't celebrate today!