Do you have a difficult time with change? I didn't believe I did. Since I've gotten older though, I've realized I would rather run from change than embrace it.
Recently I had an epiphany and a spiritual growth spurt. If you are someone that doesn't care for change this might help you too.
I'm the girl that enjoys a hot shower. When the air is cold, the comfort of this hot shower makes me NOT want to step on the cold floor, can you relate? That hot shower is the comfort zone. The cold floor is the change to come.
My space at work, home, or other ministries are comfortable. I know what to expect, my schedule is on a tight ship and things run rather smoothly. They run smoothly until a change in the process occurs. Now I am forced to readjust my lifestyle, my space, my schedule. Eureka! NO!
I'm now feeling disgruntled, I don't want to change my routine, I like what I do and when I do it. What do you mean I need to organize and delegate? I didn't do that before, so why now? How did I get elected to be in charge?
I am invisibly struggling in the straight jacket that is marked with bold letters "CHANGE." But I don't want to. (Can you see the temper tantrum going on?)
Okay; I'll breath now and move on. I need a change in my life, it's a good time to stop and relax a while, give myself a break from my normal schedule. Yeah, that's the answer.Breath.
Here's the epiphany. I stop and actually listen to myself and the words that are coming out of my mouth. I recognize that I don't like change. I don't want things around me to change or even make a slight adjustment. I don't like the change so I am just not going to. Oops, there I go again, back into the disgruntled department. Can you relate?
It was like my past flashed before my mind. I'm doing what I've always done. Nothing has changed, just because I said I was going to slow down and adjust; I didn't. So what can I do. Hmmm.
Okay, make the choice to change. Taking a deep breath, I am going to try this again. I'm ready to run and move onward to greener pastures now. Here I go, I'm taking off, I'm diving into the change. It's not so bad now. I am going to look at it from a different perspective; okay this is harder than I realize.I DO NOT LIKE THIS TEETER TOTTER: LET ME OFF!
So I decided to have a little talk with Jesus. I told him I recognize how I am ready to run from this change instead of embracing it. If all I know how to do is run from change, how can I embrace it instead?
Do you know the serenity prayer? Most of us know the beginning part.."God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." I've got that part down.
But it's the second half that the Serenity prayer that the Lord brought to my mind that changed my life and I'm embracing the change now.
"Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen"
WOW, I finally understood the second half of that prayer and I've been praying this for three years or more. It's that kind of change we don't want to accept but need to accept?
First we're only promised one day at a time. Jesus didn't give us tomorrow; it's only an idea. "Accepting hardships as a pathway to peace," I don't like hardships, long sufferings, but I will accept it because there is peace on the other side. "Taking as Jesus did this sinful world as it is not as I would have it," man I want what I want and I want it now. If you don't give it to me on a silver platter I'm out of here. I don't want to delegate or even be in charge, but I will for Jesus' purpose. Isn't that how we should change our mind set? Be more like Jesus? He took this world as it is, loves as we are, shouldn't we take things the way they are? "Change is going to happen Marjorie, embrace it and get over yourself."
Okay Lord, I'll surrender to this change I must go through, keep my eyes on you and the home that is set before me. This world is not where I belong, but just give me Jesus and I'll be alright. After all, he's the reason I do what I do, go where I go, and run my race for.
So why do you run your race? What do you do about the changes in your life? Do you do what I use to do, run? Or do you face them head on and just accept them for what they are; changes?
No one enjoys an interruption in their life not even in their schedule, but it happens. How you respond is up to you. I'm embracing change and looking forward to enjoying it all the way through to the other side.
~Be encouraged, change can be good.
Disclaimer....I enjoy my work, home life, and ministries and I wouldn't change them for anything...BUT for Jesus.
Everyone needs encouragement and I want to encourage you today. I hope you will enjoy today's write up.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
An Umbrella in the Storm
My sweetheart made the sweetest comment to me the other day.
He said "We'll be the umbrella for each other on rainy days."
Now when he said this I was downhearted and crying over something we agreed was important. The change I witnessed in us was that we communicated what was on our hearts without any apprehensions.
No matter what the subject was it was wonderful to have someone listen and know that we will get through the rough times as well as the sweet times.
Isn't that Jesus though? We can talk to him about everything without any apprehensions and he listens. We make adjustments as needed and he is always with us and sees us through it. He is our covering.
God tells us that when we cry out to him he hears us. I know there are times when he appears to be far away from us. I too have experienced dry times in my life that I have cried out "where are you?" "Don't you care Lord?" The Lord gives peace not as the world gives, but as He alone gives us.
Take comfort my friend. If you don't know peace but torment, today you can know that peace.
Jesus died just for YOU. If you were the only person on this earth, God would still have sent His blameless, sin free son to die for you. It says "For God so loved the world (YOU, you are in this world) that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life." Are you lost my friend? Are your tears like a running faucet, like mine was? Do you cry yourself asleep at night and hold yourself in the fetal position? If you do, cry out to the Lord and invite him into your heart. He wants to help you, cover you like the umbrella in the rain.
Oh Precious One, you are not alone. You're tears are not wasted, but the Lord will wipe away your tears for the hurt you are going through. He loves you more than anything, calls you worthy.
There was a time when I my heart was deeply broken. It was a Wednesday night. I decided to visit a church around the corner, I didn't know anyone there, but I asked someone what class I could visit. I was lead to a women's class down the hall. I walked into this big room filled with many women in a circle sitting in chairs. I felt so out of place, lost is the better word. I heard these two women talk about how God sees me as loved, wanted, and precious. Inside I was so broken, dirty, and lonely. I couldn't accept the words that these ladies were speaking to me, to the group. It was long after a few minutes of sitting their that the class was just about finished and these ladies passed out these magnets that said "I AM A PRINCESS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD." I didn't feel deserving of this magnet, I had not been in the class all night or during the whole season. I started out of the room when one of the teachers called me over and handed me the magnet. As I took the magnet into my hand, I turned and I felt the warmth of another tear stream down my face. It was a treasured nugget to me. It was as if Jesus had just put His arms around me, hugged me, and kissed my cheek. I couldn't take my eyes off of the words on the magnet.
Once I got home, I put the magnet down and asked the Lord to show me how he can call me a princess with all of my sin on me. He took me to that very verse that I shared with you a few moments ago.
He died for an audience of one, me. He died for an audience of one, YOU.
He loves you Precious. He loves you and calls you wonderful names, healing names, marvelous names, and will see you past your faults. There is only one thing you need to do, ask Jesus into your heart and allow him to show himself to you.
Just as my sweetheart comforted me, you can be comforted also by a God that is loving, kind, gentle, and ever present.
~Bless the Lord, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm103:1-5)
~My friend, let the Lord be your umbrella on the rainy days.
He said "We'll be the umbrella for each other on rainy days."
Now when he said this I was downhearted and crying over something we agreed was important. The change I witnessed in us was that we communicated what was on our hearts without any apprehensions.
No matter what the subject was it was wonderful to have someone listen and know that we will get through the rough times as well as the sweet times.
Isn't that Jesus though? We can talk to him about everything without any apprehensions and he listens. We make adjustments as needed and he is always with us and sees us through it. He is our covering.
God tells us that when we cry out to him he hears us. I know there are times when he appears to be far away from us. I too have experienced dry times in my life that I have cried out "where are you?" "Don't you care Lord?" The Lord gives peace not as the world gives, but as He alone gives us.
Take comfort my friend. If you don't know peace but torment, today you can know that peace.
Jesus died just for YOU. If you were the only person on this earth, God would still have sent His blameless, sin free son to die for you. It says "For God so loved the world (YOU, you are in this world) that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life." Are you lost my friend? Are your tears like a running faucet, like mine was? Do you cry yourself asleep at night and hold yourself in the fetal position? If you do, cry out to the Lord and invite him into your heart. He wants to help you, cover you like the umbrella in the rain.
Oh Precious One, you are not alone. You're tears are not wasted, but the Lord will wipe away your tears for the hurt you are going through. He loves you more than anything, calls you worthy.
There was a time when I my heart was deeply broken. It was a Wednesday night. I decided to visit a church around the corner, I didn't know anyone there, but I asked someone what class I could visit. I was lead to a women's class down the hall. I walked into this big room filled with many women in a circle sitting in chairs. I felt so out of place, lost is the better word. I heard these two women talk about how God sees me as loved, wanted, and precious. Inside I was so broken, dirty, and lonely. I couldn't accept the words that these ladies were speaking to me, to the group. It was long after a few minutes of sitting their that the class was just about finished and these ladies passed out these magnets that said "I AM A PRINCESS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD." I didn't feel deserving of this magnet, I had not been in the class all night or during the whole season. I started out of the room when one of the teachers called me over and handed me the magnet. As I took the magnet into my hand, I turned and I felt the warmth of another tear stream down my face. It was a treasured nugget to me. It was as if Jesus had just put His arms around me, hugged me, and kissed my cheek. I couldn't take my eyes off of the words on the magnet.
Once I got home, I put the magnet down and asked the Lord to show me how he can call me a princess with all of my sin on me. He took me to that very verse that I shared with you a few moments ago.
He died for an audience of one, me. He died for an audience of one, YOU.
He loves you Precious. He loves you and calls you wonderful names, healing names, marvelous names, and will see you past your faults. There is only one thing you need to do, ask Jesus into your heart and allow him to show himself to you.
Just as my sweetheart comforted me, you can be comforted also by a God that is loving, kind, gentle, and ever present.
~Bless the Lord, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm103:1-5)
~My friend, let the Lord be your umbrella on the rainy days.
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