Slow Down My Dear

In the last week, I have been adjusting to having my own car back.  Over a month ago, I got into a car accident, totaled my car, and have been without my own since then.  I had to manage to try and figure out how I was going to get place to place, meet with different people, and do my own things while sharing my parents two cars between my parents, my sister, and I.  It was definitely a slower month, I did a lot of staying home and catching rides with people when I could, and staying at Starbucks all day until someone could pick me up. 

It was some what of a break, and the only reason I can say that, is because I've witnessed first hand how jam packed I made my first week, having my car back.  If I had any free time what so ever, it was me asking myself, how can I fill that?  I was on the go, and needed to slow down, and it made me reflect on comments people had made previous to the accident, when I still had a car and this "go, go, go lifestyle" was nothing I had noticed.  But it's been clear to me, I've been wearing myself down and pushing aside time with Jesus so I could "rest."  When really, I was just programming myself to get up and do it all over again in the morning. 

Every time I come back to realizing this, I find it so incredibly amusing, how clearly God shows Himself when I just slow down. 

Imagine speeding down a neighborhood road and your passenger is giving you directions where to go.  Since you're speeding and moving so fast, you won't have time to respond when they tell you to turn somewhere... and if you do, boy is it messy.  It's the same with our lives I've learned.  If we just fly through things, cramming our schedules with whatever possible, we don't give ourselves the necessary time we need to respond to God in our daily lives, and when we try it's rushed and not sacred like it deserves to be. 

"It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way." Proverbs 19:2

If my knowledge of my job here where my desires root from, why am I allowing myself to move too fast to remember them?

I forget ever so often, how much my Jesus desires to spend time with me, but more importantly, on a daily basis, and even farther, He desires to be a part of everything in my day.  So, I'm slowing down.  I'm tired of being tired, and my Jesus has so much more to offer me when I give Him my day and give Him my time, and the control of the schedule of my life.  Life is so much sweeter in the Hands of Christ.

Chocolate Overload

A pregnant friend of mine went to a bagel bakery this morning and ordered a chocolate chip bagel, and they asked her if she would like the new chocolate chip cream cheese to go with it.  She replied, “Sure why not”… since no one was really around.  A couple of minutes later, the bakery got busy and her order was ready.  The employee came out and yelled, “Chocolate chip bagel with chocolate chip cream cheese and a chocolate milk… aka someone who really likes chocolate”.  She walked up to retrieve her order with a somewhat red face and walked out, but shamelessly.  It was probably a little embarrassing for everyone to hear her overly chocolaty order, but she got to enjoy the opportunity given to her, because she took it when given. 

Is our faith like that?  We have numerous opportunities daily to share with others what we really love, or simply to show love.  They may be sticky and difficult and sometimes embarrassing to share and show… but we have been given the opportunity to do so.  When given that opportunity, do we take it, or just pass it up because we don’t want others to hear, or we don’t want to embarrass ourselves or step out of our comfort zones. 

Sometimes, taking a risk in our faith hurts, but imagine if everything was easy.  What would the point be?  We would have no room to be challenged, to grow, to make mistakes, to learn.   Overcoming whatever “thing” we are put through, helps us to learn and grow in our faith, and to then pass that along to others.  It gives us a new perspective, a new way of thinking and conquering things. 

I was reading a book called, “The Great Divorce,” by C.S. Lewis, the other day, and read something that hits this right on the head.  “Will you come with me to the mountains?  It will hurt at first, until your feet are hardened.  Reality is harsh to the feet of shadows.  But will you come?”

We have something to hope for in this life.  Let’s share that with others, in the way we speak to them, the way we love them, and the way we act towards them.  It’s in no way going to be easy, I will be the first to admit.  I struggle very much with doing those things consistently… but we are told that it is not going to nor is it supposed to be easy.  It’s going to hurt, it’s going to grow us, and it’s going to strengthen us for more and more.  Leading us to giving Him the glory for the things He has strengthened us to do.

So… “Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.  Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

–Ephesians 5:15-20