Wanderings...

Wanderings...

where will you wander to today?                      

Have you ever thought about the wanderings of your life?  Places your feet and heart have taken you. The paths you have walked and some you still walk daily, weekly, hourly.

These wanderings are what the Lord has on my heart today - all the wanderings of my life.  Some of these wanderings have taken me next door in sweet fellowship with a neighbor, other wanderings have taken me around the world on missions I could have never imagined. And some wanderings led me far from Him.

My wanderings today take me to Myrtle Beach, SC.   The highway is covered with water. A storm is blowing through, crossing this wandering of mine.  The sky, breaking open and unleashing its heavy load of moisture on everything in its path.  The wind sways the Long Leaf Pines back and forth.  With their limbs outstretched they seem to point me farther down the road of this wandering.  

The windshield wipers frantically swish back and forth doing their best to push aside the rain so I can see the road clearly. Like this storm, the storms in our lives can blur our vision of the path God has for us and can lead us wandering away from Him.   That is exactly what the enemy wants to do ~ bring a storm into our life that blurs our vision, takes our focus off Christ and causes us to wander down paths that God never intended us to travel. What these wanderings costs us in the end is always more than we ever thought of paying.

Storms and wanderings can come in many shapes and sizes:

 

It was the storm of fear that led Peter to wander and deny Christ leaving him ashamed and broken.

 

It was the storm of lust that led David to wander and call for Bathsheba to be brought to him. His wandering led to the death of an innocent man, his son and punishment on the nation of Israel. 

 

 It was the storm of doubt and distrust that caused Adam and Eve to wander, listening to the serpent and taking of the forbidden fruit. Their wandering from God caused them to be cast out of the Garden of Eden and it threw the entire world into sin.

 

What about you? Have the storms of your wanderings left you broken, shattered, feeling alone, unloved, unaccepted and unwelcome?  If that be the case, I have good news for you. 

King David himself writes these words in Psalm 56:8 when he is crying out to God while going through a particular storm in his wanderings.   

Listen to his words:

    “You number my wanderings;
       Put my tears into Your bottle;
       Are they not in Your book?”

.

The first thing David did was recognize that God had complete control over his wanderings.  God knew every care and concern and He had not ignored them.  David knew that his Lord was trustworthy and faithful.  He knew that God was for him.

Secondly, David didn’t accept what this particular storm in his life was unleashing. We don’t have to accept them either.  We can know, that no matter what the storm may bring...God has purpose in it for us and He is there walking through it with us. He is a purposeful God, not a purpose-less God.  No matter what storms may blow through our lives, He will never leave us.  He is there watching over our every step. One day He will pour out all our tears and wipe them away.  There will be no more sorrow and no more tears (Revelation 21:4).  Doesn't that just make you want to shout!!

Until that day ~ when our wanderings are threatened to be flooded, covered over by passing storms, we can lay down like the open fields that wait for what the storms bring ~ life giving water.  Storms bring nourishment and life-giving water to the soil of the field in order to bring forth a bountiful harvest.  That's what storms can do in our wanderings too. They bring the chisel of God into our lives that shapes and mold us more into His image.  God uses these storms so we too can bring forth a bountiful harvest.  That's God's plan for you and for me. 

Storms can leave us battered and bruised or they can leave us blessed.   Choose to let the rains of your wanderings leave you soaked with His love and sprouting fruit of a good harvest for Him. 

May all your wanderings this day, this week, this year find you ~

       Wandering Close to Him!

Blessings,

Kathy

From the mouths of babes

Several years back I taught a 5t/6th grade girls Sunday School class.  This particular Sunday the lesson was on Genesis 45:20.  During the lesson one of the girls had something powerful to add. 

The story: Joseph had been in Egypt several years and because of a dream he had interpreted for Pharaoh he was made a ruler over Egypt.  Pharaoh's dream was of a severe famine. Joseph's brothers (who were living in Canaan with their father Israel) were sent to Egypt to purchase food because the famine was also in the land of Canaan. Joseph had recognized his brothers and finally reveled himself to them.

He told his brothers to go back to their father and bring him and their families back to Egypt because there were still 5 years of famine to come.

Genesis 45:20 reads:

"Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours."  

I told the class that Joseph was telling them...leave your stuff, don't worry about it, don't bring it with you because the best Egypt has of offer is waiting for you. Just come.  Get here as quickly as you can.

Here's is where one of the girls in my class chimed in. The little girl raised her hand and said:    "But Ms. Kathy, I like my stuff."

Wow!! She spoke a truth far beyond her years and it pricked my heart. Isn't what she said the truth for us adults too? We like our "stuff".

Don't we get so busy "taking care of our stuff", "tending to our stuff", "rearranging our stuff:,  "protecting our stuff" (and the list could go on) that it stops us from seeking Christ and His will for our lives.  Our "stuff" gets in the way. 

This little girl made the connection. She understood what Joseph was asking them to do...leave it behind.  But what she failed to recognize was that Joseph was a ruler over all Egypt. What he could give them would be far better that what they currently possessed. 

We do the same thing.  We like our "stuff" and we want to hang on to it.  So with one hand we hold on to "our stuff" while filtering through what God has to offer us with the other hand. Then deciding if we want what He has for us or keep what we currently have. We too fail to recognize that the "stuff" we are hanging on to can not compare to the "good and perfect gifts" the Father has waiting for us. James 1:17 tells us:

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

Sister, let me tell you something. What God has planned for our lives will far out shine the current "stuff" we have. Where He's sending us...our "stuff" can't go with us. Get rid of it. No matter what "it" may be.  Stop hanging on to the worldly "stuff"...it  only keeps us in bondage,  and start clinging to the "good gifts" the Lord is giving...it sets us free.

The "stuff" the world offers will weigh us down, burden us and keep us off the path the Lord has for us.  But God's "gifts" are meant to enlighten, empower and embolden us to do His will, His way.

I have determined 2022 to be the year I clean out the "stuff" in my life that is keeping me off the path the Lord has for me.  I'm challenging you to do the same! And at the end of the year...our spirit will be lighter and our light will shine brighter for God's glory.

Happy cleaning day!

Kathy

Food for thought...being set free

 It's only by the power, mercy and grace of God are our chains of bondage broken and we are brought out and set free.

What are you holding on to?

Well, here it is early March...already! The Christmas Season, New Years, And February flew by with a blur  of family activity, cooking, wrapping and unwrapping gifts, teaching a new class and of course...eating!

So here's the thing...in all the busyness of  our days what did God speak to you - personally?  Were you listening?  Did he have to move a mountain to get your attention, show up unexpectedly in your day or just whisper in you ear?  What did He say to you that brought you back to reality, back to focus...on Him?

If you didn't hear anything I'll share with you what I heard him say to me and challenge you to do it?

In Luke 2:6 and 7  the Bible says "So it was, while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered and she brought forth her first born Son..."

It was Mary's time "to be delivered".  She had to be delivered!  The child inside her had grown for months and now it was time for her to "bring forth" what God had been working in her life...her first born son.

So here's what God said to me and I pass on to you ~  It is time for you to be delivered from ______  in order to bring forth what I'm working in your life.  The time has come!  Trust me.

Here's  the thing...the challenge.  What is it in your life that is hindering God from taking you, placing you in the middle of his will for your life?  What is it that is keeping you from stepping right into the thing you've hoped for, longed for, for many years. Is it regret, fear, unforgiveness, insecurity?  What is it that you are holding on to?  That thing you  can't let go of?

Whatever it is this I know...God is waiting on you to let go of it and trust Him before He will move you to the next step.  He has big plans for you.  But that thing you are holding on to....it can't go with you.  It has no place where God is taking you.  You must leave it behind.  God will leave you right where you are until you take care of the issue.

I think there are so many people just on the verge of having a dream fulfilled and being in the place where God can use them mightily, but they refuse to deal with an issue.  And they stay where they are year after year and wonder why God doesn't use them.

Is there something in your life that came to mind while reading this?  Or maybe you are fully aware of an issue that you need to deal with.  Either way, sister listen to me ...NOTHING is worth hanging on to that keeps you from walking on the path He has for you.  NOTHING is worth keeping that prevents God from bringing forth what He is working your life.

So what is it?  Are you willing to deal with the issue?  Are you willing to let go of it, take a step of faith and trust Him?  A wonderful journey awaits you but you must "be delivered" from ______ for the journey to begin.

God's waiting on you...

Blessings,

Be kind

Ephesians  4:32 tells us to be kind and tender hearted toward others.
Let's make this a standard in our lives not only today but from this day forward.

A lesson in obedience from my cat

I have a black and white short hair cat named SweetPea.  Usually she stays outside but during these cold winter months I brought her in our garage and set up a small house for her to stay warm.  Every day she sits on my bike (yes, I ride a motorcycle) that is parked in front of the garage window and looks for me to come down the drive.  When I walk in the door there she is sitting and waiting.  Usually she'll automatically come over to me to be fed and petted.  But this day was different.

When I walked into the garage there she was in her place on my bike but this time she didn't come.  I squatted down and called to her ~ "come here SweetPea, come on."  Several times I did this.  She did get down off the bike but instead of coming over to me she scurried around me just out of my reach.  She acted like she didn't know me.  Was afraid of me.  Didn't want to get close to me.  So, after a few minutes I stood up and walked into the house.

Later that night I was thinking about how SweetPea avoided me with her scurrying here and there. Then the Lord reminded me ~ that is exactly what I do when I fret and worry and don't take my cares and troubles to Him.  What happened to SweetPea is the same thing that happens to me when the Lord whispers to me to "come".  SweetPea missed the blessing of being rubbed and petted.  I too miss God's blessings when I run here and there with worry and scurry all around Him but do not draw close to Him.

Matthew 11:28 tells us (Jesus talking) "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Notice the "M" in "Me" is capitalized.  He doesn't tell us to go to someone else, but to come to Him, and Him only.  When we don't, we miss the blessing.  What blessing?

The blessing of Rest when we are weary, Peace when we are troubled, Stillness when we are hurried

Confidence when we are weak and Wisdom when we are uncertain.

What about you?  Are you scurrying around, not knowing what to do?  Or, are you receiving the blessing when we obey when the Lord whispers ~ "Come"?