Are You Listening????

A few months ago I was having a particularly tough time. Everywhere I turned, people were asking me questions and then questioning my answer. That drives me nuts. I mean, why ask me something if you aren't going to believe me!?

I enjoy a good dialogue as much as anyone-even about topics which always have different sides. There is a difference between a productive conversation progressing and feeling like you are being cut off at every idea. I like discussions that flow.

So, imagine my frustration when questions like, "Is it hot outside?" "Do I HAVE to change the cat litter?" and others were met with questions. There is just no reason answering simple questions should be so stressful. No need at all.

One Saturday morning I was making breakfast (which should have put me in good graces with the entire household, because I usually serve cereal) and my youngest asked me a really easy question. I answered and got "NO, that is not right." For the life of me, I cannot remember what the question was about, but I know I got it right! Then another child followed with a question I knew I knew the answer to and I got the same "Nope, I don't think so." Arrrrghhhhh...

They left the kitchen and I was surprised this little episode almost had me in tears, but it had been going on for a while. My frustation grew and I realized it was time to have a little chat with God. My comments were, "You know God this is sooooo irritating. Why can't they just take me at my word. They asked the question, surely they thought I had some expertise or knowledge. Why does every question have to lead to such disbelief in my ability?"

To which He replied, " So How Do You Think I Feel?"

Dropped the pan, dropped the spatula and just stood and stared at the pancakes.

Ouch. That hurt.

But you know, He was absolutely right (Imagine that!) How many times do I go to Him with questions I know He will answer and then refute his answer or just ignore it??? If a few kids, an occasional spouse and parents irritate me, I cannot imagine how frustrated God gets with all of our arguing!

O Lord, help me to keep my ears open and my sassy mouth shut!

Dem Bones Gonna Rise Agin!

I know'd it, I know'd it.
Indeed I know'd it-Lordy,
Dem bones gonna rise agin!

Where did that come from?!

I am quietly trying to sort out what is going on in my heart and my world and - out of the blue- comes the refrain from an old camp song. Where in the world did that come from??

It happens every now and then...usually in quiet moments when I am looking for revelation from God and not goofy refrains from my past.

But then, it has been may experience, God deals with us in the ways we best understand. Goofy refrains might be best for me.

The fact of the matter is lately looking at my spiritual life gives me pause to what Ezekiel felt when he looked out over all those dry dusty bones. I pray my day will become like the camp song and "dem bones WILL rise again!"

Heard a sermon-if you want to reset your goals, you need to seek intimacy with God. So I upped my quiet time.

Read a devotional-if you want to hear from God, give to others to make room. Okay, doing that.

Listened to a friend-rest and wait. Oh my, that one was hard! You might as well put my eyes out!

So, in the end, I just celebrated. Yes, I celebrated! Invited some friends over, opened a bottle of wine, fired up the grill, kicked back and watched the sunset....because in the end-

God is God and I am not. And that is just okay with me.

What I am realizing is really simple. All of God's big lessons end up being that way.

It does not matter if I hear from him every day-although he really wants to speak to me. It does not matter if I give until I drop-although if I do it for him it really makes him smile. It does not matter if I rest-although his lap is always available.

In the end, God is God and I am not. I cannot make God move. I can question and I can doubt and I can wonder. But that does not change the fact that deep in my spirit there is an eternal scream "GOD IS!" Despite what I see, hear or feel....

God is-
the Creator
the Provider
the Healer
Father of All that were, are and will be.

I am beginning to understand what looked like bones was God revealing the depths of my faith to me. He knows what it is.

I know because I know because I know- God is.
and that is all I need to know.

Dem Bones Gonna Rise Agin!!!!!

A Sign for the Times

Every now and then a sign by the side of the road will make me smile. Sure, there are those "cute" signs people have with quick expressions which should have lots of meaning. I think I heard it referred to as "roadside evangelism" once.

But a sign on a local Boulevard today just struck me as strangely odd and a true sign of the times. I drive by a psychic's place (can't call it a store or an office, don't know what they call their places of business) and they had a sign in the front of their building. It read "Special, $5.00 readings".

I had several thoughts run through my head-almost simultaneously. The first, and the one that always occurs "I wonder if the person inside knew I would be riding by". The second was, "Wow, they can't even get people to come in and see what the future holds! Do they know something we don't? Are they saying our future is only worth five bucks? That's less than a movie ticket!"

Then it occurred to me-

I don't have to pay a dime to know what my future holds.

I know where I am going to end up for the "long haul". I plan to haul it up to heaven and hang out with the big guys as soon as they release me from this earthly assignment! I also don't have to worry about what tomorrow will bring, or next week, or next month, or next year. I have the joy of what Oswald Chambers called,"gracious uncertainty". I might not know what tomorrow brings, but I know I can trust the One who is bringing it!

I saved my five bucks that day. My future is sealed time and I don't have to worry about the detail. God has it all under control.