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Here in This Moment
It’s cloudy, and chilly, it’s November. And I’m craving all things pumpkin again. My (youngest) college boy is home for a whole week, and soon this house will be full with all our family – grown kids, grandkids, even a granddog. Gratitude is welling up now for those days ahead of crazy, blissful chaos, and I’m not even stressing about where everyone is going to sleep. Ah! My arms are ready to hold my grandkids. And I am ready to try some new pumpkin recipe. And to play games at the table, and to laugh.
Right now it is quiet though, except for my college boy who just came in with his friends looking for something to eat. And I am grateful – for grace; grateful to be loved and pursued by a glorious God who goes after this heart, over and over again with His truth.
See, last week I found myself seething with this general discontent, not with anything major, just my life, marriage, parenting, friendships, ministry, purpose, etc, etc. (please overlook the drama) I wanted to put myself in time out. Maybe I should have.
Seemingly out of nowhere, in the middle of my ordinary normal, life was frustrating, boring, unresolved, and irritating.
Do you ever feel like your husband doesn’t get you? Or making decisions about dinner is exhausting? Or, is this where I’m supposed to be, now, at this point in my life? Or, why can’t I be a better friend? Or, why isn’t our ministry more nationally visible? Or I wish we had more money so we could go see our grandkids more?
But God…whispered (loudly) in my ear what was making me miserable, where it all started…where it always starts with me.
Ingratitude
Just that. And that’s enough.
Praise and Thanksgiving. Sounds oh so familiar. But, it is life-giving. And necessary. And it is the fruit of a life changed and indwelt by Jesus.
Changing my mind, repentance, prompted by the Holy Spirit, my tongue became the pen of a ready scribe.
And I just started thanking Him for – everything I could think of.
Life, air, shelter, food, pumpkins, clothing, health, music, husband, each child, each grandchild (twice), heaven, troubles, unresolved things, ministry decisions to be made, friends, fall, grace, forgiveness, and blood,
Red, red, blood
that cleanses all my sin, including the sin of an ungrateful heart.
And joy came in;
like a faithful friend to the rescue. It tasted like the sweetest fruit I’d ever bitten into.
“I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess. 5:18
Go ahead. Try it.
And please share what you find, here with me. Share your joy feast, your grateful list.
I would be even more grateful.
Happy Pumpkin season!!
Joe & Kim in La Grange, GA on 12/09/14
Kim will be the featured guest singer and speaker for the Ladies Christmas Dinner at
Rosemont Baptist Church in LaGrange, GA.
Joe & Kim in Griffin, GA on 12/14/14
A Kept Woman
…no, no…not in the mistress sense,
But a kept woman in the abiding Presence of Christ.
This is my reality.
My choice is to believe and trust and live from here.
The One who has captured my heart keeps it very well.
Even in the messes around me – and in me – that seem to want to swallow me up
~unfinished projects (this could be a whole blog in itself)
~laundry
~feeling misunderstood
~wishing I was a better friend
~returning phone calls and writing that letter
And all other moments lived in yucky flesh ~ rebellion and self absorption.
Truth:
The One who saved me has sealed me and has promised to never leave me.
He comes after me – in my mess – with conviction, not condemnation,
To rescue me from the pit of self….
To remind me that Life is in Him Life is Him
That He is in me and I am in Him…. by the power of the Spirit, not by my striving
Makes these eyes stare at Jesus
He must increase – I must decrease
Michael Wells (www.abidinglife.com) said, and this may not be an exact quote, but my takeaway,
”Abiding is not a feeling, it’s not a work I must do, it’s a knowing that I am kept.”
Paul said from a Roman prison, waiting to die…
“…for I know (perceive, have knowledge of, and am acquainted with) Him Whom I have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on), and I am [positively] persuaded that He is able to guard and keep that which has been entrusted to me and which [a] I have committed [to Him] until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12 MSG)
I’ll say it: “I’m a kept woman – and grateful for it.”