The Eye of the Storm

This is a very busy week. I have Oklahoma rehearsals Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and assemblies on Wednesday. I have solo competition (NYSSMA in NY) on Saturday morning as well as 2 rehearsals during the week. There are also minor things—spending time with Dwayne, keeping the house, maybe even checking in with my kids—that need to be tended to as well. I also need to take care of myself. I need to ice my elbow and shoulder.

While life swirls around me this week, I want to stay in the eye of the storm where it’s quiet and peaceful. I plan to find myself in the palm of God’s hand and not allow what’s going on externally to move me into frazzledness. Jesus said, Come to Me, all those laboring and being burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, because I am meek and lowly in heart, "and you will find rest to your souls." For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. (Matt. 11:30)

If I accept His yoke, the burden is light because He carries it. He gives me rest for my soul. See you next week when I’ll tell you how I did—whether I let Jesus carry me through the week or not.

A Child Again

I find myself longing to be a child again. I wish I were 5 and had no responsibility. Someone else would take care of me (my parents perhaps). I wouldn’t have to oversee any housekeeping (that would be the absolute best!). There would be no parenting to do and I could be a child. I would have lost experiences that have formed me. I would have missed the joy of being married to my best friend. I wouldn’t be a mom. Growing up is part of life.

As I grow older and my concerns change, I am intensely aware that God is bigger than I ever imagined. I’m learning that I’m still His child. On days when I want to revert to childhood because my cares are piling up, I read this passage from Matthew 6.

For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Then do not be anxious for tomorrow. For the morrow will be anxious of itself. Sufficient to each day is its own trouble.

If I climb up into God’s lap and press into his chest, He handles everything else. I need to remember to climb into his lap.

Thirsty?

Are you thirsty? I am. Isaiah told every one of us who was thirsty to go to the water. Do you ever head to the desert when you should be looking for springs? I do. I find myself wrapped up in old habits and ways of doing things. I should be heading toward Jesus, the source of living water. He is infinitely creative and can teach me how to follow him and find water. Even though I know that, I find myself walking backward—heading to the desert looking for water. I can be foolish even though I have access to the Wisdom of the Ages. Lord, let me accept your wisdom. Let me drink from Your living water.

Sleep

Who needed to lose an hour of sleep this week?

Sunday night found us in the ER while Dwayne was having a gall bladder attack. The ambulance brought Dwayne’s dad in as we were leaving. When we woke up Monday morning, there was a message that our friend Gordy Maikranz had passed away Sunday night. We had illness and grief in full portion.

Dwayne struggled Sunday night, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually. I knew God was holding us as I watched him deal with his pain. I saw Gordy’s widow Chrissy react with dignity and grace. From her own lips: “God is good.” How do we know that God sees us and cares for us? Knowing comes from our relationship with Him.

Although we need rest, God does not.

Psalm 121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Patience

Today is Sunday. I struggled to get back into my routine. I also caught a bad cold. This week needs a sharper focus. I want to write this week as well as spend time cross-stitching. I also need to clean my desk off. I have been putting this task off for more than 6 months. I know it’s necessary. Sometimes the simplest things can free up the logjam. These are my goals.

Patience seems to be the word of the week. I need patience as I learn the discipline of writing. I need patience as I continue to learn to eat properly and exercise well. I need patience as I wait for God. I need to be patient with myself. I don’t know if I have the calm endurance that comes from the certain knowledge that God is in control. It’s time to work with God in the area of patience. He is infinitely patient with me and I must take my cues from Him.

And those in the good ground, these are the ones who in a right and good heart, hearing the Word, they hold it and bear fruit in patience. Luke 8:15

This is my prayer—that I will hear the Word, hold it and bear fruit patiently.