what I learned today

Every day is a precious gift from Almighty God.  That's what I learned today.

I'm still basking in the thankfulness I feel for a blessed day of sleeping in, walking dogs, babysitting the most important child in the universe, and just praising Him that our family loves Him so.

It's been a really long time since I've felt like my work is not 'out of control'.  It's still impossible to fit into a 30 hr work week, but it's just good, really good.  So I sit in a place of thankfulness.

There are always things to get done and places that need 'going to', but instead of some huge new thing learned today, I just learned again to be thankful.  I thanked the God of the universe for sending His Son for me, thanked him for my hubby and family and His never ending care.

Maybe tomorrow I'll learn something astounding I can share - tonight I'm satisfied with what today has been and for the things I've already learned.

what I learned today

This is actually still churning within me as a result of my study on vacation.  

There is so much - where to begin...

Growing up in the church, so many of the 'believers' I knew seemed sad - as if being a follower of Christ meant they had to be constantly serious and on task to obey every rule known to mankind.  They said they believed in eternal security and yet lived an outwardly terrified life as if their salvation might at anytime be revoked.  It didn't make sense to me as a kid.

What I'm beginning to discover is that what Christ desires for us, what we were created to be and what attracts the lost more than perhaps any other single thing - is when they see our Joy in Christ.

The old song "What the World needs now is love sweet love" really translates into a universal desire to be loved and cherished and what the worldly love never finds is lasting satisfaction which we know is found only through relationship with the creator of love.  And only through that relationship do we find true joy.  For when we have hope in Christ - we're sure in our eternal destination there is truly no room for paralyzing fear. or loneliness.  The world cannot make us sad unless our focus turns toward the world and the temporary stuff it offers us instead of keeping our eyes eternally focused.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord

I'm sure this has no circumstantial boundary - no limitation of any kind that would justify a believer to ever be less than delighted with the Lord.

The Bible talks about how Paul was sorrowful yet always rejoicing and we know of many missionaries who have given all yet felt they never made a sacrifice.    How can this be?   Can this type of focused delight even happen in America where we all have too much?

John Piper's book  -  Desiring God has strengthened my resolve to find out how to live this way.

I have made the statement  - "He or she steals my joy",  about people I was struggling with.    I have to wonder if that deeply hurt my Savior!  It is a choice to allow my joy in Him to be stolen, no one can take it.   It is only when my relationship with Christ is as it should be that I can experience any lasting joy.

Piper says God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him...

Is it possible as an American to be satisfied - ever?  I've said it before and I still believe it may be true - perhaps America is the most deceived of all nations?  The nations where people are persecuted for their faith - there is no doubt who truly loves and knows Him and who does not.   Here - it's become kind of gray...if asked most people would probably still say they believe there is a God, but sadly their life, their lack of joy and constant striving for more says otherwise.

I'm beginning to believe that everything God created me to be, to accomplish, to strive for is contained in - Delighting In Him - so much so that everyone can see Him and not just all the stuff I accomplish.

Are you joyful?  Does the world wonder what you have that they don't?  Is there a peace deep within you that leaks out when everyone else seems to live in a state of stress and panic and deep dissatisfaction?

Let's all take a step toward an eternal Delight that no man, no event, no trial can ever extinguish!  Let's be filled with joy found only in our Savior!

loving regular

I LOVE just plain old regular stuff.

Regular schedule
Regular eating - anything will do
Regular friends - no thank you celebraties (or those who think they are)
Regular moods - not into moody or those who are not dependable
Regular family time
Regular learning
Regular jokes from friends
Regular challenges - I like to problem solve as long as it doesn't include tantrums
Regular changes - I get bored easily

I feel I have an extraordinary life.

It's funny though, when I ask myself why - what makes it extraordinary?  It's the regular ordinary stuff that does.

The older I get the more satisfied I am with regular.  (don't confuse regular with settling for less then excellent - I highly value and strive for excellence!)

However, when I see the dis-satisfaction all around me with people that appear to be important, rich, constantly seeking attention or notoriety, I realize they actually have nothing.  And in many cases can even be considered foolish based on what they chase.

It's not wonder God values the most insignificant among us as the most significant.  They need Him - they are satisfied with little and praise Him for everything they have.  They are regular and yet extraordinary in His sight.

I am very thankful to be just plain regular!

entitlement mentality

I am surrounded by people that take missions trips all the time, that talk about how most of the world lives on $1 per day. How did the world ever get so lopsided financially? God has been unbelievably good to us in the United States. Still we gripe complain and overspend, then we end up in debt. Does this make sense to you? It's embarrassing actually.

Last night on tv they were interviewing people whose homes were in foreclosure. I guess the trend now is when people find out they are going to lose their home, the owner guts it and sells everything they can, including things attached to the walls that leave huge holes and almost unrepairable damage. An act of stealing really.

They interviewed a lady that talked about everything she was selling from a home that the bank technically owned. Acting as if she felt this was perfectly acceptable she said to the camera, "They are the people that were dumb enough to give me too big of a loan in the first place, so it's their own fault."

That statement stuck with me all night. I felt that it summed up so many people's attitudes around the country. How sad. I pray that as believers that is never our attitude - an attitude of entitlement.

I had to search my own heart and ask a tough question, do I live as if I'm entitled to whatever my heart desires? I had to admit sometimes I do. I overspend sometimes, I feel jealous toward what others have sometimes, I want the confidence that I see in others and even get upset sometimes when others have something I don't. How sad this must make my Father.

So what gave us this attitude of entitlement? Are you willing to take steps away from this attitude? I long to live a totally satisfied life despite my circumstances...not possible unless I abide in Him!