A Different Response

I received some disappointing news today. Something I viewed as a great writing opportunity was snatched away. Nope. Sorry. We don't think so. I could have argued to regain it. Indeed, part of me was making a list and checking it twice. That part didn't win today. I'm not bragging because I'm still smarting over this. I'm struggling to not be bitter and spout off about how I feel I've been wronged.

Instead, I'm choosing to let God have his way. This was not for me. I wanted it. I had it. But God said no. And though I don't know the reason why, I'll accept it. Instead of pouting, whining or being bitter about it, I am choosing instead to meditate on and live out these two verses:

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him." Psalm 37:7 (NIV)

and

"Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:5-6 (NIV)


It's a more pleasant response. I'm waiting on God to do something else, something new. "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)


Be blessed!

Mari

Are You Listening?

Do you ever find that is you look directly at someone, you can hear them better? It's like your listening skills suddenly improve by just engaging another sense, sight. I thought about this early one morning recently. I had the song, "Listen" by Trin-i-tee 5:7 on my mind. I hadn't heard it recently or anything. But I was reflecting on how I was really hearing God recently. You know..the LOUD and CLEAR kind of hearing. That caused the song came to mind. And of course, because I am strange jumble, I started asking myself what listening meant to me. Why was my "listening" and  subsequently, "hearing" so much better?

It is because my other senses are fully engaged. I'm walking around with my eyes open, really looking for signs and hints. When you seek, you find.  I've been reading the word "looking" for what new thing God wants to show me about that book or verse I feel I know so well or not so well.

I'm also touching. This past year I haven't written much. Over the holidays I realized through a sort bout with a dark period that seemed like depression that I have to write. Writing is what God wired me to do. It's how I connect all the dots He's showing me. It's one way I connect to Him. I need it like air. So I'm touching pen or pencil to paper, fingers to keyboard and God's heart for others with my words.


And I'm speaking. I'm praying. I got away from that during the holidays. Rick's back went out so a lot more stuff fell on my plate to handle. I got so caught up in my own pity party of  "I'm so tired, no one appreciates me, life is so hard, " that I forgot to lean on the One who could sustain me, renew me and carry me through. I hate when I neglect our relationship. Trust me, God never neglects me, but I often Him. Now though, we're back to regular conversations. A girl couldn't be happier.  :)

Listening. Seems so one-dimensional when you say it. But when you do it, I mean really do it, it's very multi-dimensional. So much of you is involved. And it's a sweet experience, be it with God or another person. Being a motor mouth myself, I don't listen enough. But that's changing now. Being an extrovert, I crave interaction. Listening is interactive. Who knew? LOL

My final thought was this: You can't experience the beauty of the conversation or message if you don't hear it. Are you listening?

Be Blessed!


Mari

The Crud

Y'all, I have the crud. I can't breathe through my nose right now. My throat hurts from breathing through my mouth so much. And I keep sneezing when the Kleenex are in the other room and I have no more with me. I feel horrible. I despise being sick!  And guess what? In the midst of this illness, God had a little message for me. It involved crud too. Oh joy!

Micah 6:8 has been following me around for the last couple of weeks, even in songs (see video below). Last night while I was drinking my tea, I decided to start at Micah 6:1 and read to 6:8. I just had to know the "whole story". I had to see what God was trying to show me in Micah 6:8. In chapter 6 The Lord begins to make his case against Israel. He asked the people what He had done to them. How had He burdened them? (v3) Then He asked them to remember all He had done for them. He wrapped up with asking how they thought they should worship and honor Him. it wasn't with burnt offerings, calves, rams, oil or a firstborn (v4-7). No, none of those thing would do. Why? Because they do not involve true engagement with God. They don't involve the heart.What really struck me in the New King James version was the way God kept saying "O my people". I could just feel His sorrow, His pleading with His people, with me.

So in verse 8, it says, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?." As I read and re-read those eight verses, it struck me that I'm as ungrateful and forgetful as the Israelites. No matter how much God does for me, I always want more or something different. No matter how faithful and consistent, I worry about everything. It really settled in that the same crud the Israelites had in their heart, sits in mine as well.

Just like I'm fighting the crud invading my body right now, making me feel like one big congested nose, I'm fighting the crud in my heart. God clearly wants my devotion to Him, not just to what He does. I don't always give that. But I should. He deserves that and more.

It boils down to this. Even in our trials, those we cause and those that seem to simply befall us, we learn something about God and about ourselves. Whether we choose to act on that information determines the course of our life. I learned something and I plan to act on it. I want the course of my life determined by devotion, honor and obedience to God. How about you?



Be blessed,

Mari

Turn It Around Tuesday: It's Only Temporary

It's November. When I was living in Chicago that meant 40 or lower degrees and possibly snow. In North Carolina, where we live now, it's 76 degrees. A girl could get used to this. But. You knew that was coming didn't you? This Indian Summer is temporary. Thursday the high will be 55. Sigh!

A little while ago I wrote something that reminds me of how things are temporary. Warning: this is raw and unedited. Be gentle with me :)

Even though there are dark clouds above, notice that they are moving. They are not here to stay. There is hope of blue sky and sun to come. The wind has uprooted some trash cans and recycle bins, scattering their contents about. But this too is a temporary situation since a clean up crew or resident will return the trash to its rightful place. Even the bits of trash cannot take away from the beauty of new life seen all around. The trees are displaying their new buds in an array of colors, reminiscent of fall. Even those that are bare seem expectant, standing next to their budding counterparts. Though not perfect, what I see is still beautiful because it screams hope.The temporary blighted scene cannot detract from the hope of the beautiful scene that will soon emerge. I can hardly wait.

Hope. When things are going bad, remember they are only temporary. There is hope in a change. When you can't seem to get it right, remember it is only temporary. Situations and circumstances are temporary. They ebb and flow. They change. Temporary. Sometimes we like the change. Sometimes we don't. Either way, we know at some point, change is coming. That's hope life works.

But there is one thing we can count on to be permanent and full of hope. God.

"For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob." (Malachi 3:6 NKJV)

"And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16 NKJV)

"For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD endures forever" (Psalm 117:2 NKJV)

I could go on and on. But it all begins and ends with this fact. Life here on earth is full of the temporary. Our souls long for permanency. The only way to satisfy that longing is to fill it with the best. And the best is God. If you don't know Him, have a relationship with Him or seek Him daily, start today.

Blessings to you all,

Mari

Morning Conversation with God

As I sat and looked through my screen, I saw your wonder. Just beyond the tallest tree, I could perceive it. It was as if I was gazing upon a new place, a new world. Red was flowing into a brightness that was neither solely yellow nor white. The intensity of it juxtaposed with the darkness of the early morning clouds announced Your presence. You do not merely say "Good Morning."  Instead you exclaim Your greeting with flare, intensity and beauty. "I am here" does not convey what my heart perceived.

I heard with my eyes and my heart, "I AM! You are my child. Come! Share my beauty. Capture my love for you with your eyes, your heart and your words."

As the sun rose and I continued to look out over the horizon, You wrote a new message.

I could see Your holy mountain there in the distance. Though my mind whispered, "There's no mountain there!", in my heart and soul I perceived it. Yes, it was there, in unparalleled splendor and magnificence. I whispered to You, "One day I will join You on Your mountain. Until then, I will cherish those moments where you speak Your love for me."

Good morning to you too Father God. Thank you for sharing Your beauty. I receive it. I record it. Amen. And Amen.

Mari