Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Little by Little

We’re in our new house, but it’s not complete. We have wires sticking out in many places where plugs will soon be; only the three bedrooms have flooring, so there’s concrete and concrete dust everywhere; our shower isn’t tiled yet so we’re all taking baths in the guest bathroom; my dishwasher and garbage disposal still don’t have any power yet; and the list goes on.

This morning as I was getting dressed for the day, everywhere I went in the house, and everything I did, I thought to myself “I’ll be glad when this is done,” or “I can’t wait until that is finished.” After many of these thoughts had gone through my head, I told myself to have patience - it would all get done in time. Then the scriptures from Deuteronomy I had been reading came to my mind (see below). You see, before moving into this house I had adamantly declared that I didn’t want to move in here until everything was completely finished and we could just simply move in. But of course it didn’t work out that way. We leased our other house and the move date moved up. So here we are – unfinished chaos for now.

When the Israelites were preparing to go into the Promised Land, Moses told them they would need to take it little by little or the wild animals might overtake them. And once they were there, they needed to be careful not to forget God. It occurred to me as I was wishing for completeness and telling myself to be patient, that if things had been done the way I wanted them to be, perhaps the “wild animal” of pride would have attacked me. Maybe I would have been proud of what “we” had accomplished, instead of what God had accomplished. But instead, I have to be in constant prayer not to get frustrated, I have to pray for God to help us pay for everything, I have to pray for wisdom to know the best way to do things, I have to pray for strength to complete the work, I have to pray for healing for sore muscles and injured joints. Get the picture? Instead of pride, I now find myself drawn closer to the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving. Thanksgiving? I thought we were talking about patience. Yes, in all the chaos and mess, I also find myself seeing the “promised land” here, and the gift that God has given us in this place, and I thank Him for it all. So I guess little by little is OK. For now.

The Lord your God will drive out these nations before you little by little. You will not be able to destroy them all at once; otherwise, the wild animals will become too numerous for you. (Dt. 7:22)

When you eat and are full, and build beautiful houses to live in, and your herds and flocks grow large, and your silver and gold multiply, and everything else you have increases, be careful that your heart doesn’t become proud and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. (Dt. 8:11-14)

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Coffee Issues

While at the "She Speaks" conference, I sensed the Lord leading me to "fast" from coffee for awhile. I am a true coffee addict and really LOVE my coffee. I brushed off the "sense" and went to the next conference session, only to be reminded by the message that was being delivered. Micca Campbell was speaking, and was illustrating to the audience that when God asks us to trust Him and give up something, He has our best interest at heart, and will bless us in the end. What He asks us to give up may be something big or something small, but He wants our trust and obedience. I knew in my heart that God was again reminding me about the coffee and asking me to trust and obey. I whined to Him, asking, "Whhhhyyyyy?" The first thought that came into my head was "it's become an idol". Ouch!
The following morning I was back home and woke up thinking about the coffee situation. Was it really God telling me to give it up, or was it my subconscious hearing all the years of Mike harping at me that I shouldn't be so addicted and needed to give it up? I decided it probably wasn't God, and even if it was, tomorrow would be a better day to deal with a caffeine headache than today. So I made my coffee, poured my cup, took a few sips and sat down to read my Bible. I'm currently in the book of Romans, and when I opened it to my marker, guess what passage I was on - Chapter 12. And what does the first verse of Romans Chapter 12 have to say?
Rom 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? (NLT)
So. . . I got up, poured out my cup of coffee, poured out the pot I'd just made and asked God to forgive me. I thought to myself, "Ask me something hard, and it's easy. Ask me something easy, and it's hard." I'm now on my second full day of not a sip of coffee. I'm really dragging and had a hard time today. It's not supposed to take long for coffee addiction to pass, from what I've heard. I hope not. 

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 Focused Distractions This morning as Mike was trying to get out the door for work, he remembered he needed to bring his desk calculator to the job site in order to make the task ahead a little easier. As he was also suffering from swimmer’s ear, I asked him if he wanted me to put the drops in for him. He gladly handed me the bottle, laid his head on the table and turned his ear up for me to drop the liquid in. He picked up his head, picked up the medicine bottle, picked up the small bag of cotton balls I’d given him, kissed me goodbye, and left. As I settled down into my chair for my bible study time, I was heavy hearted at how distracted I’d been from preparing, praying and focusing on what God wants me to prepare and bring to the “She Speaks” conference next month. Life has been so topsy-turvy lately, and although I’ve continued to read my bible, go to church, and pray (sort of), my nearness to God has suffered. I’ve sensed a “distance” between us that is uncomfortable to say the least, and certainly of my own doing. I was trying to focus on what I was reading when my cell phone rang. It was my friend calling to set a time for us to get together for a planning session on our upcoming Youth Camp. As soon as I said “hello” to her, the house phone rang. The caller id said it was Mike, so I answered it on my other ear with the words “hold on a minute” spoken into both receivers. Mike didn’t hold on, and went on to tell me he’d left the calculator on the table and “see how easily distracted from his purpose he was?” I agreed, told him I had another call in my ear, and I’d talk to him later. He asked who it was, and I said “Kathy. Bye,” and hung up. As I hung up, I laughingly said ”Nosey” and went back to my call with Kathy. We scheduled a time to get together in the evening and I finally got back to my study time. It was then that God began to show me that my focus on the “calling” He has placed on my heart is like the scenario which had just taken place in so many ways. 1) Mike was distracted and no longer focused on that which would make his task easier. Yes, the distraction was an important one, but it took his focus away from the object of his need. 2) I was distracted from my object of need by phone calls and ministry planning. Yes, the planning and ministry was important, but it took time away from my Source and Purpose for ministry and that which would make my task easier. 3) When Mike called to point out how easily distractions take place, I cut him short and called him nosey. Yes, I was nice about it, laughed and smiled, but cut him off anyway. 1Ti 4:13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. (NLT) Lord, help me to stay focused on You as the Object that will make my task easier, and on being obedient to the calling You have placed on my life.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Focused Distractions

This morning as Mike was trying to get out the door for work, he remembered he needed to bring his desk calculator to the job site in order to make the task ahead a little easier. As he was also suffering from swimmer’s ear, I asked him if he wanted me to put the drops in for him. He gladly handed me the bottle, laid his head on the table and turned his ear up for me to drop the liquid in. He picked up his head, picked up the medicine bottle, picked up the small bag of cotton balls I’d given him, kissed me goodbye, and left.

As I settled down into my chair for my bible study time, I was heavy hearted at how distracted I’d been from preparing, praying and focusing on what God wants me to prepare and bring to the “She Speaks” conference next month. Life has been so topsy-turvy lately, and although I’ve continued to read my bible, go to church, and pray (sort of), my nearness to God has suffered. I’ve sensed a “distance” between us that is uncomfortable to say the least, and certainly of my own doing. I was trying to focus on what I was reading when my cell phone rang. It was my friend calling to set a time for us to get together for a planning session on our upcoming Youth Camp. As soon as I said “hello” to her, the house phone rang. The caller id said it was Mike, so I answered it on my other ear with the words “hold on a minute” spoken into both receivers. Mike didn’t hold on, and went on to tell me he’d left the calculator on the table and “see how easily distracted from his purpose he was?” I agreed, told him I had another call in my ear, and I’d talk to him later. He asked who it was, and I said “Kathy. Bye,” and hung up. As I hung up, I laughingly said ”Nosey” and went back to my call with Kathy. We scheduled a time to get together in the evening and I finally got back to my study time.

It was then that God began to show me that my focus on the “calling” He has placed on my heart is like the scenario which had just taken place in so many ways.

1) Mike was distracted and no longer focused on that which would make his task easier. Yes, the distraction was an important one, but it took his focus away from the object of his need.

2) I was distracted from my object of need by phone calls and ministry planning. Yes, the planning and ministry was important, but it took time away from my Source and Purpose for ministry and that which would make my task easier.

3) When Mike called to point out how easily distractions take place, I cut him short and called him nosey. Yes, I was nice about it, laughed and smiled, but cut him off anyway.

1Ti 4:13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. (NLT)

Lord, help me to stay focused on You as the Object that will make my task easier, and on being obedient to the calling You have placed on my life.