When You Hate Living, Maybe It is Time to Breathe

I share this because some folks I know have told me how much they hate their lives,

and I wonder if maybe it is because they've forgotten how to breathe....

We are moving, and in the course of sorting, packing, and tossing, I've filled a few boxes with school supplies that I thought might be useful for the schools in Moore, OK. Wanting to make sure I get the most for my money, I've opted to drive the few hours there instead of shipping them, and while we are there, we are pulling on our work gloves and seeing if we can help someone find their way into a solid hope for rebuilding. If nothing else, maybe we can hand out a few Kleenex, give a few hugs, and be a friendly face on a hard day.

I shared what we were doing with friends and said if anyone wanted to go, I have a few seats left in my pickup and if anyone wanted to send supplies, I have room in the back. Just figured if I was going already...

Folks responded, and more supplies and donations are headed that way, which I love.

Then...

I was told I'm amazing for taking supplies to Moore and spending a day working.

Nice thought. I appreciate it, but I know the truth.

I'm not amazing. In fact, this is one of the most selfish things I've done, actually.

In the process of my family's moving, I want to be still.

 I'm thankful for the new house. It is beautiful. Thankful to be moving. So in awe of how God has worked everything out, but I'm also tired.

The packing, organizing, calls, appointments...moving "stuff"...is so incredibly self-centered and time intensive that I feel toxic.

Yes, we want to help people in Moore, but really, I want to go, get back in touch with someone else, let my heart be broken, and detox. I *need* a day that wears me out emotionally and physically for someone else.

And that isn't amazing.

It's really pretty selfish, but it is a selfish that feels like being a human who is looking past the "stuff I need to do" list to the "person I want to be" list.

 In all the stuff that becomes so center stage that it can be suffocating, this feels like breathing.

Investing in What God Promises

This morning I'm pondering God's promises. Actually, I'm pondering Genesis 23 and the investment Abraham made into God's promises. He took responsibility for believing in the promise. By buying that field for a burial place, he was letting go of the past and believing for the future God promised. Even though he was old, he believed age had nothing to do with it and God's promise had everything to do with it, and he bought into the promise.

Powerful stuff as I take my life, plans, and thoughts, put them on the altar before the Lord, and ask,
"So, where do I need to invest? How do I take responsibility for the promises you've made to me? What do I let go of and what do I grab onto?"

This is exciting stuff. :-)

Perfect Parenting

The patience of the Heavenly Father is mindboggling. He and I talked about that yesterday actually, but one thing I've also learned from Him is His idea of perfection isn't necessarily what we think it is. It isn't about perfect actions. It's about perfect heart.

One day of my kids made a mess in the kitchen, and I had that, "How hard is it (to simply get it right)?" mental tirade going, and God spoke so clear and gentle. "It isn't about teaching them to never make a mess. It's teaching them to take responsibility for their own messes and sometimes others' messes. That teaches a repentant character. It is also teaching them to trust your response to their mess because in your response, they are learning MY character."

I will tell you honestly, that last sentence brought me to my knees in tears. Does my response teach HIS character? In my response, do they see His strength, purpose, discipline, and concern for THEM not just my house or what others think or how much time it took me to clean that kitchen?

Is MY heart perfected to show His?

Because Life is Not a Yoke

This morning I'm meditating on Matthew 11:28-10--Come unto me all you who are heavy-laiden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Pretty straightforward stuff. If you are stressing, you are carrying the wrong yoke. Put it down. Give it to God. Take up what is only yours to carry and get some rest. But most folks stop with the head knowledge. The spirit knowledge then asks, "Daddy, what yoke am I dragging around that isn't mine? What do I need to put down? And the yoke that is mine, am I carrying it the right way? If not, show me what to carry and how to carry it so I am resting in you, living like Jesus, and being the blessing you created me to be."

Blessings to each of you to carry the right yoke and to carry your yoke right!