Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Sip & Savor

Hurry here and hurry there.  There are deadlines to be met.  Times we have to meet.  Rushing here scurrying there.  We see it everywhere.  We hear parents telling children "hurry we're late"  We down our meals so quickly we don't know what we've eaten!

The other day I was reading a book in the Old Testament when I came across a long list of genealogy - UGH!  Names I don't know how to pronounce.  Names like Shephatiah, Maaseiah - the list was long.  I was thinking of skimming over it or really just eliminating it from my reading.  But I heard God say - take the time to read each name, pronounce them out.  So I did and I learned something in the process.

It slowed me down.  My breathing changed.  My body relaxed.  My devotional time with God was not hurried.  The rest of the reading was filled with awesome time with God.  My heart and mind was ready to receive what He had for me.  I found my mind was sharper, more alert and words from the scriptures jumped out at me allowing me time to savor what God had for me.  I had given control to God.

It's like making a cup of tea....I can get out a mug, pour water into it, zap it in the microwave for a quick 2 minutes, dunk in the tea bag and I have a cup of tea all within 3 minutes!  OR  I can boil some water, get out a nice tea cup, get some loose tea (which tastes so much better) - wait for the water- pour it into a tea pot - sit down, let it steep (wait again!) and then enjoy.  By the time my lips touch the rim of the tea cup I feel peaceful.  I won't gulp the tea I'll sip and savor it.  Just like Jesus wants us to do with His Word - Sip & Savor!

So I'm not skipping over those long lists of names any more.  There's a purpose for everything in the Word of God!

Friday, June 7, 2013

Squander

Time for reflecting is good.  It is good for the soul.  Reflecting makes you appreciate simple, small things in our every day , ordinary lives.  Did I say ordinary lives?  In today's world where we are so "connected" with Ipods, Ipads,Iphones, Itouch, we can feel we are so special.  But in reality we are ordinary.  Human beings doing every day things.  And it is in that ordinary every day living we can begin to miss those special moments.  Those God moments.  When the Creator opens your eyes, stops you in your tracks and allows you to be a part of something bigger.  But in order to have those moments, we have to put down that cell phone and stay unconnected to the outside world and join Him.  Put down my cellphone?  I won't know what's going on?  Not look at facebook or twitter????  Can we do it?  Let's try....

Sit down, breathe in deeply and breathe out slowly.  Already you begin to relax.  Do it again.  So simple and yet we rarely do it.  Allow your mind to focus on HIM.  Recall HIS blessings in your life.  Now as you read what I am about to share with you, remember, God selected you to read this, it is HIS moment with you.

For over a year I have been trying to get back to my old way of life.  Running here, involved there, signing up for this, committed everywhere.  My mind-set was, this is what I've always done - isn't that what the world tells me?  Sign up, join in, commit!!!  I did it with my son, Trey, as he grew up.  We went from one sport to the next.  Everyone does it, it must be right! Wrong.  But several days ago, God gave me another glimpse into what He has been trying to get through my thick skull.

I was reading Ephesians 5:1 "Be imitators of God" - stop cold!  The question God asked me was "How can you imitate me if you continue to squander your days?"  Yep, He used the word squander.  It was as if I was doused with ice cold water.  Do not squander your days, Sharon.  Every day wake up and yield to Christ.  Every day wake up and surrender your day first and foremost to Him.  Every day wake up and decide to obey every prompting of the Holy Spirit.  Don't squander one moment.  Look around at who God puts right before you (even if it's someone who annoys you - LOL).  Every day before you grab that cup of coffee, look at that cellphone; purpose in your heart and soul not to squander one moment.  They are precious.  You're not guaranteed that there will be a tomorrow.

Enjoy the moments God has ordained for you today.  Let Go, Let God.  Stop squandering and begin to live a Christlike life.  Let this world see ME not you.  Let this world see MY love, MY mercy, MY grace and MY power through your life, not your accomplishments.  As you surrender to ME they will know who I am.  Don't squander your time, allow ME to mould you....Remember I am the potter and you are the clay.