Three-ring Circus

July 30, 2008 at 8:03 pm (Devotionals)

“Lord forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world, that fight for our love, and our passion.
As our eyes are open wide and on you,
grant us the privilege of your world view,
and may your kingdom be, what wakes us up, and lays us down.”

I have listened to this song by Toby Mac over and over the last few weeks.  He sings about not wanting to gain the whole world and lose his soul.  Several thoughts in the song seem to put my own feelings into words.  “Father God, I am clay in Your hands.  Help me to stay that way through all life’s demands cuz they chip and they nag and they pull at me, and every little thing I make up my mind to be.  Like I’m gonna be a daddy whose in the mix and I’m gonna be a husband who stays legit and I pray that I’m an artist who rises above the road that is wide and filled with self love.  Everything that I see draws me, though it is only in You that I can truely see that it’s a feast for the eyes- a low blow to purpose and I’m a little kid at a three-ring circus.”

I feel this way when I walk through the grocery store, or even through lifeway.  There is so much stuff everywhere and even in Christian stores it is all marketed to entice.  But the circus is more than just stuff.   I want to be clay in God’s hands when it comes to being a mother and a wife.  Life’s demands do chip and nag until the road that is wide and filled with self love seems enticing.  I get tired of the tempertantrums and the misunderstandings.  I become selfish and want what is easy or makes me feel better.  But, I remind myself that my purpose and self worth is found only in God’s unselfish love, which reminds me of another song- this one from the Newsboys: “I surrender all to the promises You made, and I will give it all to the Maker of today…He doesn’t love us cuz of who we are, He only loves us cuz of who He is.”  And He is great.

 

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Perspective

July 9, 2008 at 7:36 pm (Devotionals)

“Happiness in heaven is based not on ignorance, but on perspective. We will be with Christ, see accurately, and live in a sinless environment.”-Randy Alcorn, in answer to a question about how we can be happy in heaven when there are so many bad things that happen on earth.

Living on earth, we lack perspective.  Jesus, being the exact representation of God, taught us a different perspective.  Life is not just about us.  Eventually we will see the big picture and all these major hurts and frustrations will seem like minor difficulties that were completely worth it.  My bible study teacher said last week that God has two agendas: to save us and to make us holy.  Everything that God allows to happen to us is to draw us closer to Himself in some manner.  Last week Micah had an ear infection and we had to give him an antibiotic.  Apparently there has been ample research done on the taste of amoxicillin.  Unfortunately, the flavor accepted the best by most kids was not acceptable to Micah.  The first night we tried to give it to him he successfully fought the attempt for 30 minutes.  We finally tried just shooting it toward the back of his throat as quick as we could but he spit it right back out.  I started crying because I didn’t know what we would do if we couldn’t get him to take it.  I wonder if God ever feels that way about us.  He knows what the outcome will be and He has it all under control but we fight Him over it.   

“Lord, forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world that fight for our love and our passions.  As our eyes are open wide and on You, grant us the privaledge of Your world view, and may Your kingdom be what wakes us up and what lies us down.”

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