Let God Surprise You Today!

So since to this point I have not blogged daily and I'm wondering if you have forgotten what we are in the middle of. We are spending a month asking God to surprise us on a daily basis.  Those of you who are reading this are welcome to join in right now, whether you've been doing it or not.  The thing is a couple of you have admitted to me you've stuck your toe in the water to test the temperature. (meaning you've prayed this prayer a time or two) But, you've not shared what happened. Speak up! The point of this blog is to "do life together" reminding each other that we are all "treasures" in God's sight. He loves us all equally and He gave us each other to support, encourage, challenge and yes, even reprimand each other. So join in, share, ask questions...there are no wrong answers or too stupid of questions.

As you probably have noticed by now, I don't always share original thoughts. Often I'm processing something I've read. Today is one of those days. Often I use devotional books to start my thinking process in the morning. Today's entry was just too good.  God is currently surprising me by allowing me to trust Him in a season of change like I've never trusted before. I'm surprising myself! :)  Anyway, what do you think about this:
" I am perpetually with you, taking care of you....I am not limited by time or space; My Presence with you is a forever-promise. You need not fear the future, for I am already there. (Bold added) Your future is in My hands; I release it to you day by day, moment by moment. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow.
 I want you to live this day abundantly, seeing all there is to see, doing all there is to do, Don't be distracted by future concerns. Leave them to Me! Each day of life is a glorious gift, but so few people know how to live within the confines of today. Much of their energy for abudnant livign spills over the timeline into tomorrow's worries or past regrets. Their remaining energy is sufficient only for limping through the day, not for living it to the full. I am training you to keep your focus on My Presence in the present. This is how to receive abundant Life, which flows freely from My throne of grace."
Matthew 6:34 (read vs. 19-34); John 10:10;James 4:13-15
Quoted from September 30, Jesus Calling,  by Sarah Young Thomas Nelson Publishing

Hurrying

"...because hurrying keeps your heart earthbound."  I read that phrase yesterday and I keep thinking about it. Now it's just one person's opinion, but the more I think about it the more I think it's true.  When I'm hurrying (and I have been the past few days) I'm thinking about what I'm trying to get done now AND how I will get the next thing done. I'm usually stressing a bit thinking I'm going to be late or how can I change something a bit to make it quicker.  I've needed a couple of things from a store that's not on my everyday route for a couple of weeks but I haven't taken the time to go get it because I'm always in a time crunch to be somewhere else.  I hate that!  So while I'm figuring out the schedule and how to get it done, I'm not thinking what is the Lord saying to me right now. I'm not paying attention. I'm missing out on what the Lord is doing and saying all around me.

You know it's like that in our other relationships too.  When I hurry around in the morning I don't always here what my husband is telling me about his day and often that leads to a hassle later in the day. When I keep really busy I don't have to think how I'm feeling about what is going on. I just "do" and move on.  That's not good either. Jesus came to give us life. He is our peace and our joy but in order to experience that peace and joy we have to pay attention to Him.  We have to watch and listen for Him. We have to slow down.

Activity Addiction?

I know I don't write every day. Part of the reason is I'm learning to not rush through each thought. I'm trying to learn to let it really soak in and become a part of my life.  Those words "activity addiction" from a devotional book of mine have been repeated at a women's retreat I went to this weekend and somewhere else that I was reading. I was reminded again that our culture rewards busy-ness and appearances. However busy and bigger isn't always better. An old friend of mine used to say there is only one letter difference between God and Good, don't confuse the two. Something can be really "good" like reading a Christian living type book by a famous teacher but is it stealing your time directly with God Himself? Have you spent any time in His book today?

Anyway, that's what I've been thinking about. What about you? What's your activity addiction? Let's get real. Let's "talk". We can learn from and with each other.

Lessons in the Classroom of Life

Okay, I really feel like a school girl, in class. It's that obvious to me that God is teaching me a specific lesson right now. Of course, my idea of specific has about 100 side lessons as only God can do. After all He is the ultimate teacher. You know I always tell everyone I got one of my favorite school teachers 3 times in elementary school. (No, I didn't flunk. She changed classes) I love that! I do know that in upper elementary she told my parents I talked too much so she changed the seating arrangement and put me in the front of the room, right next to her desk. Then, I talked to her! :)  I think I do the same thing with God. He's teaching me, but the whole lesson would go alot faster if I'd do more listening and less talking.

Yesterday, I read something that talked about spending time alone with God. It said it can be difficult because it goes against the "activity addiction" of this world. I've not heard it put that way before. Personally I don't have much trouble getting alone with God. Now getting quiet and truly listening? That's a whole different story. I'll listen for about 3.2 seconds and then it's back to my questions, concerns etc. God is so patient though. He is teaching me to trust Him. I mean really trust Him. That only comes with knowing Him.  This verse jumped out at me this morning. John 17:3 (Amplified Version) "And this is eternal life: (it means) to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with and understand) You, the only true and real God and (likewise) to know Him, Jesus (as the) Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent."

Keep teaching me God. I'm listening. How are you doing? What are you learning? Are you listening?
Do you trust God?

Minute by Minute

So over the past few days I've come to realize that this is a minute by minute deal. I am having to make choices multiple times in a day.  My choice? To trust God with what is going on (or what's NOT going on) or to try to take care of it myself.  I continue to think I know or at least have a general idea of what my day, or situation should look like. It continues to be different or to change. Am I worried? Sometimes. Do I get anxious? Sometimes. Do I over think? Lots of the time.  Wasted energy.

God loved me before I even knew Him. He knew me before I was born. The Bible refers to the "days He has planned for me." I just need to relax and follow. "To you oh Lord I lift up my soul. In you I trust oh Lord." Psalm 25:1

What about you? Are you worried or anxious? Are you trying to control things that are out of your control? Let's talk about this.

Contentment

Content = "A state of heart in which you would be at peace if God gave you nothing more than He already has." Love Focused

That statement has really made me think. What I've concluded is that if you are not always focused on the "outcome" of what you are doing it's way easier to be content. For example, we live in a home with 3 stories, basement, main floor and 2nd floor. The bedrooms are on the 2nd floor, the laundry and office are in the basement. My husband has two bad knees. Not a great combination. So for several years I've been praying about a ranch style home. We've even looked into a couple. Nothing has worked out. It used to really bother me, but today I realized it doesn't bother me anymore. We have a home and the living expenses are reasonable. When we actually "need" something different I'm sure the Lord will provide it. He always has.

Now the challenge is to take that contentment to the rest of my life. This can be really challenging in relationships. What about you? Tell me about contentment in your life.

Umbrellas

I'm always reading something. Honestly usually more than one something. I read the Bible everyday in my quite time in the morning and I'm often reading a devotional type book, usually another book too. Right now I've got 2 or 3 things going and more waiting!  Anyway, yesterday I was struck by a comment a author friend of mine, Terry Esau said.  This is keep it simple time is inspired by his "Surprise Me God" experiment and book of the same name. (You should really check it out).  He said something like, you know maybe this experiment isn't so much about what God can/will do but about how much I will absorb. He compares it to rain falling and our willingness to "soak it up."  It rained here yesterday. We rushed around finishing our outdoor work so we WOULDN'T get wet.  Great analogy.  Spiritually speaking God rains on us constantly - love, care, grace, forgiveness, the list could go on and on. The question is will we take away our own protective, self-imposed umbrellas and receive it? How come so often we think it's all for "the other guy, not me."

Well it's time for me to go outside. Don't think I'll take my umbrella today. I'll just see what happens. How about you?

Not So Hard

You know, I'm discovering that it's not so hard to "let God" handle my life. Really! I just keep finding scripture that reminds me that He's "got my back." He's looking out for me and that He has a plan that includes the whole world. It's not all about me.  Truthfully, I love that. It totally takes the pressure off of "me needing to do it right."

The verse that caught my heart today is "he is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:27b-28a  He's not far away. He's involved with me. IN HIM we live and move and have our being. He's right here. I love it!

Day 5-Trust?

Okay, so now the rubber meets the road.  I am only in control of me and sometimes that's questionable! :)
I'm in the middle of a circumstance that I did not directly choose but I agreed to and now I seriously doubt the validity of the situation. However, I have no concrete reason except my own "gut".  So as I prayed last night and this morning, "Lord, help me love this person and trust you with the outcome." I realized that the problem is I don't want to be taken advantage of or hurt. So it's time. Time for me to live what I believe.  I believe God is in charge. He will not abandon me. He will protect me. He loves me. Deuteronomy 4:29, Hebrews 10:23
Keeping it simple. I am to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind and love my neighbor as myself. HE will take care of the rest.
So here I go, "for this I have Jesus."