Focused on the can

With the “self help” and “positive mental power” and many other ideas out there, one can tend to lean on their own abilities to control circumstances.

Truth is we can do nothing.

On our own we are completely unable to even be.

God created each and every one of us.

(Genesis 1:27 KJV — So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.)

He sustains us.

(Psalm 55:22 KJV — Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.)

Not unlike a toddler, whose every need is met by their parents, we are often unsatisfied.

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the “I want!” or “I can’t…!”.

When those things which have been denied us is all we focus on life gets wearisome.

Instead, focus on the can.

“I can breathe today. Praise the Lord!”

“I can find comfort in… Praise God!”

“I can find joy in… Praise You, Jesus!”

For the follower of Christ Jesus it is an attitude of thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:15 KJV — And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Focusing on the can.

Today, can be a day of thanksgiving!

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for sustaining me today and every day. Thank You for providing for me and teaching me an attitude of thanksgiving. Please continue to shine Your truths into my heart and mind. Lord, let my life be a reflection of You.

All over prickles.

It didn’t matter.

Nothing was working.

The tension mounted till I thought I might cry.

Why?!

My heart was crying out from the pain of another’s poor choices.

It didn’t ease until the other person broke

into

tears.

I suddenly realized they were as frustrated and confused and disappointed as I was.

-pause-

-think-

-feel-

-change-

I had been the one with all over prickles.

It was leftover from a recent experience which had left me distrusting same individual.

And this time, without realizing it, I’d come to our meeting with attitude.

Praise God for His compassion.

He spoke gently to my heart and I was able to look into the other person’s eyes and past all the poor behavior.

Then the Lord filled my heart with love for this struggling young soul.

“Okay, sit here next to me and I’ll help you.”

And we worked on.

It wasn’t easy.

But removing my previous distrust helped immensely.

And it’s taught me more about myself.

No matter how much I think I’m letting go of each experience of the day to day, they affect me.

It takes purposeful time before the Lord to clean my heart and mind of the hurt or disappointment or discouragement or whatever yucky which wants to cling to my soul and harden my heart towards others.

It takes being open to the Lord showing me the plank in my own eye.

And it’s humbling.

Beyond easy to point to the wrong in others.

Piercing is allowing Jesus to point to mine.

As I pray for today,

I’m asking Jesus to hone me,

and

to remove the

prickles.

Childhood

Little bitty socks,

Little bitty curls,

Little bitty buttons,

Pink toes,

Deep giggles,

Dimples,

Soft skin,

Warm hugs…

The list goes on.

Childhood has so many different stages and blessings and joys.

As our children have grown we’ve learned more than I think we could ever teach.

I was thinking about the classic trouble with raising children this morning,
the moment when you ask for them to do something and the response is:

“I don’t want  to! ” Emphasized with a stamp of the foot, a glare, and hands on both hips.

It can be funny from an outside perspective but this morning it was an in-the-face-rebellion.

I had to stop and pray, hard.

Not because of a child refusing to obey but because I realized that was what I was doing.

In my heart I was completely unwilling to step into the day awaiting me.

In my morning devotion I could clearly see the stubborn refusal to move forward into God’s will for my day.

Why?

Honestly, because I was being selfish.

Gulp!

How embarrassing…
and sad
and pathetic
and sinful.

So:

“Lord, forgive me for being selfish. Forgive my rebellion and my self pity. Please help me to love serving others no matter how I’m treated,  no matter how I feel about it. Help me to be quick to forgive when my feelings are hurt and difficult to offend. Please guide me, so u don’t waste my time doing other things which simply keep me from Your perfect will. Thank You for mercy and a second chance! “