I remember thinking when i saw air pods for the first time. Not me. No i would lose them and it would be quite an expensive loss. However, I saw people NOT losing the little pieces of plastic. So, i purchased my first set with a gift card. And had some bumps along the way, but I was able to keep track of them.
Until a puppy came into my life. The little container had fun treats inside! I realized she would hunt for them. Well, I’m sure you can see the writing on the wall, yes, she destroyed them. Enter a new gift card. Enter new ear buds. This time would be different. Haha. I keep dropping them. One time i lost one of the buds for a week. And then, all of a sudden, I found it.
Last night, in the middle of the night, i dropped one of the buds and just was too tired to look and wake up everyone in my room (husband, dogs..) Yet, the rest of the night, i thought, over and over about making sure I got to it before my puppy. Or what if it is gone again?
This small story is a little bit like my faith. I fixate on something, worry about it, toil, shred my mind wondering what if? I’ve written about this many times, but when i walk, it is very easy for me to keep my head down, watching where i am going and i miss the beauty because i am staring at the cement.
When i remember, i look up and see the beauty of the barren trees, the little birds singing, I breathe deep and remember. And then put my head down.
The ear bud was not gone, it is sitting in its case charging as I write. Nearly every thing I worry and fret about, does not come to pass as i have played out in my mind. Here’s what i also do: I try and figure how i will solve whatever issue is at hand. I’ll come up with scenarios on what i can do.
This past weekend had two such scenarios, where I did something unusual. I waited and I prayed. i talked it through with the Lord. He is asking for my trust and my hope. He knows me better than I. He knows the way. Normally I would jump in quickly and try to fix. And I watched the Lord answer without my assistance.
In the same way, I stopped writing for quite a while because I was trying to solve in my hands. I needed to remember why I write. I’m not writing to solve someone else’s problems. I am writing to remember who solves mine, if that, in turn, helps you the kingdom of God advances.
I don’t want to forget the lesson of the ear buds for me. What if God had all these things in my life right now under control?
This past weekend, the message was on a well known passage in Matthew 19.
”Then children were brought to Him so He might put His hands on them and pray. But the disciples rebuked them. Then Jesus said, “Leave the children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to Me, because the kingdom of heaven is made up of people like this.” After putting His hands on them, He went on from there.“
Matthew 19:13-15 HCSB
The parallel was made to the next session:
”Just then someone came up and asked Him, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life? ” “Why do you ask Me about what is good? ” He said to him. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones? ” he asked Him. Jesus answered: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself. “I have kept all these,” the young man told Him. “What do I still lack? ” “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” When the young man heard that command, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.“
Matthew 19:16-22 HCSB
Be like the children. They brought nothing to Jesus except their little hearts. They had no offering. Their parents brought them to be blessed. The rich young ruler wanted to know what he needed to bring, what he should do. Jesus didn’t want his stuff, Jesus wanted his heart. Humble, simple and beautiful, just like the children.
Let’s be honest, we bring nothing but rags to Jesus. His blood makes all things new. Blessing of Matthew 19 is the reminder that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like the children. They have no list of all the things they have done. The ruler does.
Jesus gives a list of all the things the ruler needed to keep. Never noticed this before, but his response is “I have kept all those.”
I’m sorry, what? Jesus’ reaction isn’t noted, but I could hazard a guess. He’s not impressed. Rather, no matter that the ruler keeps all these, it’s his heart that Jesus wants. In thinking through this, I am so taken what is important to Jesus. It’s not the outward expressions that impress or call Jesus to notice. it’s the heart of the children. They don’t even realize the depth of their need, they only know where to sit, at Jesus’ feet.
I’m trying to get to the bottom of my thoughts here. What people around us see in us, how they view us, what assumptions they make based on appearances…none of this matters to Jesus.
David was a man after God’s own heart and we wonder about that. Look at his sin! Look at Bathsheba. Or his kids. God looks at his heart. God saw the outward depravity and need but He also saw in David a pursuit of God’s presence that honored Him.
I read this through two weeks later and realize I’m preaching to myself, yet again. What i learned previously, I learn again and i add to it. We’ve had a series of events lately that have taken the wind out of my sails and I’ve paused before running to the phone or text. Last night i went to the word, and i began reading a psalm that held me during my two week stay at the hospital.
Psalm 23. In doing so, I found a book, “A Shepherd’s guide to psalm 23”. And i spent the evening calming my heart, listening to truth and painting. it’s an easy psalm to memorize for me (I’ve worked on it with each of my children during their Awana years.Thank you, Awana!) And during the night, i repeated truth over and over again.
What i love about the word of God is that we gain new understanding of psalm 23 by learning a shepherd’s perspective but also in my Bible i have written all the names of God the same shepherd declares throughout the Psalm.
I’d highly recommend the little book. I am an urban girl and farming language flies over my head. Having this little book speak to a profession unknown to me has opened my eyes.
I probably should cut this post up, but I’ll send it. And then, start building my habit back up again.
Peace.
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