Sometimes ya just gotta shake things up

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Hints of green play in the top of the trees and early flowering plants bless with colorful blooms. Spring is finally starting to show signs of new growth, and I’m so ready for a season budding with fresh hope. I’ve been frazzled and antsy, desperate for answered prayers and to find a balance.

With the start of a new Bible study, Kelly Minter’s No Other Gods, I realized my time on social media is a major problem. Sure, I can tell myself I’m ministering to others, connecting with friends, reading devotions, and encouraging others in ministry. Even though I hope to do those things, when I’m truly honest with God and myself, I waste more time online than doing anything worthwhile.

God gave me a visual the other morning. Our Maple tree is sprouting new growth. Unfortunately, the squirrels find the leaves a tasty temptation, and they do not resist temptation. Our poor tree is looking rather stressed. A Bluebird, who has a nest in our yard, will knock on our window to tell us the squirrels are too close for comfort. After taps on the window from our feathered friend, I stepped out on the patio. A squirrel jumped off the tree and ran for cover. Then, another four jumped off the branches and ran. Yikes! If we don’t make changes, the Maple tree might be stripped bare by long-tailed, furry rodents.

In the same way, social media seems to be stripping bare my time and sanity. I need to make changes.

God blessed with another visual from a squirrel. Sweet hubby moved one of our bird feeders to a shepherd crook further back in the yard to try and keep the critters from climbing on to the feeder. A few minutes later a squirrel climbed up a few feet on the pole and couldn’t go further. He returned to the ground to study and analyze the situation. Not to be dissuaded, he again climbed up the pole about a foot, then shook his body. The quaking of the pole caused some of the feeder’s content to scatter on the ground. He then happily munched on what had fallen. Squirrels are clever little things, aren’t they?

Like the squirrel that shook the pole, sometimes we have to shake things up to get the good stuff. I too need to shake things up for my spiritual, emotional, and physical health. I need to chase away the things that chase me away from God. I need to spend time with God without running to immediately post what I’m reading, writing, or learning. Instead, I need to wait for the Holy Spirit’s prompting to share. I’m shaking things up, I’m chasing away things that strip bare my soul and chase me away from God, and I’m relaxing into the strong arms of my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Are you looking for the good stuff? In your spiritual walk, what do you need to shake up and what do you need to chase away?

Heavenly Father, please forgive me for being so distracted. Help me to use my time better and to use social media in a way that honors You. Help me to chase away and throw aside everything that keeps me from running the race You have given me. Thank You for shaking me up and showing me the things that have come between us. I ask for Your forgiveness. Thank You that Your kingdom is never shaken. Help me to cease striving and know that You are God.

Thank You, Father for this day. Help me to rejoice and be glad in the days You have given. I love You, Father. I’m resting in You and praising You.

I ask these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is my Savior. Amen.

“Only the things that cannot be shaken will remain. So let us be thankful, because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We should worship God in a way that pleases him with respect and fear… throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us.” ~ Hebrews 12:27b-28 (NCV), Hebrews 12:1 (AMPC) 

Emphasis added on scripture.

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Not consumed

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Desperate prayers pound on heaven’s door for loved ones, for those who are hurting, ill, weak and frail, for those who have loss, grief and pain, and for those who have wandered away from God. Despair threatens to consume me, and then I remember…

“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, therefore I hope in Him!” ~ Lamentations 3:21-24 (NKJV) 

When prayers go unanswered, hope returns as I remember God’s mercies and compassion are new every morning.

When fears and doubt assail me, hope returns as I remember God’s mercies and compassion are faithfully great.

When trials and difficulties attack my family and friends, hope returns when I remember God’s mercies and compassion will be there for my family and friends.

When loved ones stray, I remember God’s compassion and mercies will not allow them to be consumed by the enemy nor will my hope be consumed because of God’s loving compassion and mercy.

The same God who kept the burning bush from being consumed, that kept Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego safe in the fire, will keep you also from being consumed.

Hold on to The Hope that will never let go, hope that is new every morning with compassion and mercy. God’s compassion, mercy, and faithfulness will never fail.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” ~ Isaiah 43:2-3a (NIV)

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Drowning

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I’m drowning, Lord. I can’t hold on. Please save me. Please save my loved ones. Please, Lord. I’m drowning. Please save me and save them! The waves of problems tsunami my soul. I can’t take another hurt, heartache, or tragedy. I’m drowning, Lord. Please save.

Show me how to live and how to love in the midst of a world that destroys life and doesn’t love. Show me how to stand when I’m too weak to stand. Show me how to fight against evil but not be overcome by evil. Show me how to love with your love before my love grows cold from the heat of the battles.

My desperate prayers pound on heaven’s door, my soul cries out for You to save those I love and rescue those who need You. Please rescue them. Comfort those who mourn and grieve, heal those who are sick, open eyes blinded by sin, open hearts that have grown hard, reveal Yourself, Lord. Reveal Yourself to those who have wandered away from You. Reveal Your love. Destroy the lies of Satan. Restore, redeem, and create good from what the enemy meant for evil.

The storms hit hard, the waves break over my soul. Lord, save. I’m going to drown! I am sick at heart. How long, O Lord, until you restore me? Return, O Lord, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love. I come to you for protection, O Lord my God. Save me from my persecutors—rescue me! Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.

Jesus responds, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then He got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.” God’s truth rushes to rescue and grant grace that breathes into my drowning soul. His love casts out my fear. His truth speaks, “peace be still. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

His lovingkindness ceases my striving, He lets me rest in His love. He leads me beside still waters and restores my soul. I will not be afraid for You, God are with me. Thank You for rescuing and catching me in Your strong arms. Thank You for Your protection and comfort, Father. Thank You that You love those I love even more than I can imagine. Thank You that Your strong arm is mighty to save. Thank You that nothing is impossible for You and nothing is too hard for You. Thank You, Father. Thank You.

God caught me “reached all the way from sky to sea; he pulled me out of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos, the void in which I was drowning. They hit me when I was down, but God stuck by me. He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved—surprised to be loved! For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” ~ Psalm 18:16-19 (MSG), Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me.  =Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” ~ Psalm 23 (NLT)

(Matthew 8:25, Psalm 6:3-4, Psalm 7:1, Psalm 17:7, 1 John 4:18, Matthew 8:24-26, Mark 4:39, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 46:10-11, Matthew 19:26, Jeremiah 32:27)

 

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