I never really know what is on the other side of the door. I can try to peek out from a curtain window or I can look through the peephole if there is one.
Might it be flowers? Bad news? An opportunity to assist? Am I needed?
There are so many ways a day can go. If you can start your day by being the one to “ask, seek, and knock” you might find that you are in a better position to adjust to the needs of the day.
Approaching God and recognizing His gifts of forgiveness and grace puts our heart in a good space. Offering our prayers and intercessions is a beautiful way to start the day.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened”. Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 NIV
Do you find yourself feeling guilty about resting? I find that my mind has been trained to think that rest is for the weak. I don’t always notice my own subtle thoughts along those lines but sometimes I hear them in conversations with others: “I slept in and was lazy today.” or “I feel lazy when I sit for just a few moments.”
Those with busier personalities may have a harder time with sitting still. And others of us may do a good job resting and recovering as they prepare for the next thing. Do you allow time for physical and emotional rest?
Not all situations are demanding physically. Some circumstances require heart and soul work, but they each use our energy. I am just thinking about regular life here — you know, when things seem to be ok. We are working and doing life and day-by-day things are going smoothly. But throw in something that is demanding either short term or long term and we will find we need even more rest.
If we are living and breathing life on this Earth, we will all experience something that is demanding and maybe even soul crushing. I pray that you are in regular communication with God before that happens. Or that you start resting in Him now. When we are weary and burdened He will give us rest. As we seek God’s will and wisdom for our circumstances, He will give us the rest we are desperate for.
Sit a while and consider His offer for rest. Rise refreshed with renewed strength for your day. Let Him carry you through your circumstances.
Sometimes we get a heads up and we are able to prepare for things coming up. In my opinion, there is a fine line between what is enough time and what is too much time. I always temper my anticipation of positive things with the reality that it might not really work out. But when it comes to events that will be difficult to walk through, I imagine all the scenarios so my mind and heart are prepared. Too much lead time is just too much for my personality. I am a possibility person, and when that comes to positive things, that’s great. When it comes to negative things, it’s definitely overwhelming.
When I read through the teachings of Jesus in Matthew and leading up to the coming verses, there is a lot to digest. All of the parables, the side conversations, the plotting, and the movement are hard to absorb because it is, as you know, a busy week in history. There are so many highs and lows and gut punches. Our own life drama is incomparable, but it’s what we have: our highs and lows and gut punches. And our anticipation of God’s promise being fulfilled, through Jesus, for the world and for each of our lives.
The time is coming…
Jesus said, “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”
Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.
The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”
But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” Matthew 26:2-13 NLT
I have only been on a small sailboat once. It was fun but, man, was it a lot of work. I am glad I had an experienced person with me because I definitely didn’t know what I was doing.
I had to trust the person I was with.
I had to allow for the changing wind direction.
I needed to work with the sails and the wind.
I needed to think ahead and anticipate the changes.
Have you been thrown off by the daily changes? I don’t have kids in school but I would go crazy having classes change from being online …
…. to being in person …
… to only two days a week …
… to all the screen time …
… to all the ups and downs of the kids trying to adjust and readjust …
… to all the daily change ups in decisions (like lunch and who is home and who needs to be home and who has the computer and do we need more computers in our home?)
All of that.
Who can adjust all their sails so many times in a day? Week? Month? Year?
Thinking about all of it makes me tired.
And when I am tired, I know I need to find rest!
We often laugh about our grandbabies who are just over a year and definitely both still need 1-2 naps a day. Sometimes they fight those naps like crazy. I am sure I did it too when I was little. Maybe it was FOMO (fear of missing out) and maybe it was just not accepting I had done what I could do and now I needed to rest.
What do you think of when you think of resting?
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-29 NLT
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?”
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
Truly I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
“My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
“Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
“I don’t know the man!” [Matthew, NIV]
We ponder, pray, confess, and contemplate during this Holy Week and we anticipate His resurrection.
Enough is one of those words that conjures up so many
different thoughts for me.
Have you ever heard someone draw the line and say, “That’s enough!”? I know I heard my mom say that a few times when I was bickering with one of my brothers. She had drawn the line. She was done listening to the banter.
We all have different limits and mine have definitely changed
as I have moved through life. In some ways, I put up with less and in other
ways I put up with more. I know my
tolerance for some things is very different now compared to thirty years ago.
In terms of acquiring things, what is “enough”? That, too, is something that has changed for me over the years.
What are we collecting and what are we collecting it for? Will we ever be satisfied or is more always the goal? Is there ever enough time? Sometimes striving so hard causes us to miss out on other things.
Is there something you need to draw the line on? Is someone
pushing his or her limits with you? Is there something you are gathering for
naught? Is God trying to expand your boundaries? Are we seeking something
because we are unaware that we already have “enough”? Are we too
concerned about the future that we aren’t a part of today?
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. [Matthew 6:33-34, NIV].
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. [Matthew 5:3-12 NIV]
We are blessed in countless ways but the blessings listed above are not what the world considers to be blessings.
It is always a challenge for me to remember God’s definitions when I am in the middle of living in this world. Even if I am not contemplating my own situation I still see others and consider material wealth as a blessings.
Of course, it can be used for good and to bless and all that. It can also be a curse. Those things that the world values that are not of God can easily become the things we seek and strive for and we can lose so much in the process.
Have you ever been caught up in chasing something meaningless? Something that, if you caught it would actually catch you and try to put a stranglehold on your faith? God’s blessings are so different from what the world considers a blessing.
Lord, help me to receive your blessings without always looking for the next one. Let me savor the gifts You have placed in my life — the blessings the world doesn’t value but You use to grow me into the person you need me to be.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Give me your eyes for just one second Give me your eyes so I can see, Everything that I keep missing, Give your love for humanity. Give me your arms for the broken-hearted The ones that are far beyond my reach. Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten. Give me Your eyes so I can see.
How much would change in our behavior and relationships if we would have God’s eyes for a person or a situation? Are we using God’s perspective as we consider our circumstances? Are we seeking His face so we can reflect Him more accurately?
Each time we seek His face, He shapes our vision to be more like His. My own vision is faulty. It is clouded with my sin, my sinful nature, and the sin of the world. At this time in my life I need reading glasses as well as glasses that can give me better vision at a distance, and, to top it off, I even have astigmatism which means that my eyeball is not a standard shape [per dictionary.com]. So I have three things working against me for 20/20 vision. And yet I have never had restrictions on my drivers’ license in any state in which I have lived. A little wacky vision is acceptable to the state and even within our world and that makes it fairly easy to stray from what is acceptable in God’s eyes if we are distant from Him.
Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. [Psalm 27:7-8 NIV]
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. [Psalm 105:3-4 NIV]
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. [Matthew 6:33-34 NIV]
I like to use “Give me Your eyes” as a quick prayer when I am coming into an uncomfortable or unknown situation. Staying tethered to God is essential for improving how I see things around me!
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. Matthew 26:48-50
Have you ever been connected with someone who flattered you with kisses (or something similar) only to have them turn on you later?
If you have ever experienced it you know it is quite unpleasant. When I have been in this type of situation I wonder where was my discernment? Why was I vulnerable to fall for something like that?
Who does that to people?
Plenty do.
But knowing that this happened to Jesus helps. Betrayal happens.
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9
Of course, our betrayal experiences do not compare with those of Jesus but it is good to know that pain we feel – He can relate. And God can use it for a greater good.
The sooner you can forgive a betrayer the better off you will be. But just don’t expect that to be something you can do without Jesus. He is the one who makes forgiveness possible.
It isn’t fair to say this rule originated in Bronxville, but I saw it here first.
When everyone is lined up at a traffic light and it turns green, the first person in the cue to turn left does not need to yield to the cross traffic. They turn in front of the car that is going straight as soon as the light is green.
What?
That has not been an understood driving right anywhere else I have ever lived.
* * * * * * * * *
When I get to a new place, I try to figure out the unwritten rules. There usually are a few. At first I might notice that something is different and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Then, as time goes on and I observe more, I might be able to decipher it. And then I have to decide if I want to be a part of this new place and their rules.
Whether or not we are conscious about this process, I think it is fairly common but most noticeable when you are the newcomer to a situation.
Every town, organization, church, family, and relationship has rules. Some are formally written out but it is always hardest to figure out the unwritten ones. It takes time. And sometimes we get caught up in a system before we are able to discern whether or not it is healthy.
If you are in a situation that seems a little off, spend a little more time observing, pray for discernment, then decide if you should stay or go.
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