Do you ever think if someone had listened to you in the first place, circumstances wouldn't have gotten so bad or worse or more complicated?
Sure, you have and I certainly thought so this morning. If only _______ had listened yesterday perhaps it would have been easier this morning. Hey! Remember last week we prayed at prayer group to shake up our daily routine? Make us question the comfortable? Thank you again, LORD.
Rocking the baby, God spoke to me about casting stones on the topic of listening. First, He reminded me about the men gathered with stones in their hands ready to throw them at the woman caught in adultery. Just the woman, who knows where the man was. Jesus invited them to throw their stone if they were without sin. Hmmm.
Have I ever not listened? Procrastinated? Made something worse because I didn't act on what I heard?
Second, He reminded me of the Shema, announced morning and evening to declare devotion to the One, True, Only God. Through study with other folks, the word Shema is becoming deeper and richer, beginning with the meaning of not only listening but obeying. In order to obey I must hear deeper, really listen. The word implies the action of obedience. So, am I listening or only hearing His voice?
Thank you, again, Sovereign LORD, for the reminder that judgement is not mine, it is already done and we are all judged incomplete without you, we all sin (disobey), we all want OUR way and it is an action that turns us 180 degrees around to LISTEN and OBEY you.
As my Rabbi Jesus commands, so I yearn to obey
HEAR, O Israel, the LORD is God, the LORD alone. Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and ALL your soul and ALL your might and LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Routine
It was one of those mornings. You know them well, when the normal routine is replaced with a different schedule. Dad has to leave early so mom gets the boys ready to drop off to summer camp/day care while attempting to leave at the usual time. Top that with a not so normal night with a sleepless, crying baby and two hours less sleep for mom!
Routine. Upset the routine and it shakes us all up. At prayer group on Tuesday we actually prayed to have our routines shaken up, our ordinary day become extraordinary and the normal be abnormal. WHY?
Routine dulls the senses, makes us comfortable, we are less observant, we don't question why we do things or what we are doing, we become complacent, things are familiar...
You add your own observations about routine. Is it bad to have routine? Absolutely not, it is necessary if we are to go about our day, accomplishing our job, making it through. However, it is good for the routine to get shaken because it DOES make us question things, wakes us up, makes us more aware of what we are doing and WHY!
This morning several things made my rocking reflection for baby's nap focus on MY job, MY routine. One was a response from my daughter on an offer to help; "it is not your job." Granted. Another was a response from my grandson when he was attempting to communicate to his mom and I offered an answer; "I am not talking to you, GG.". An apology was give for the tone but the response in both cases was right on (after reflection and I took ME out of the equation).
What is my job? It is NOT to offer help when help might intercept God's teaching and care for another person. Being sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit will guide when help is necessary and when it is interference. It is NOT my job to get in the middle of another's communication with unasked for advice. It IS my job to LISTEN, first to the voice of God through the Holy Spirit and second to the voices around me so that I will ask God continually for discernment in how and what to pray and/or speak.
Bottom line, shake up my routine, O God my Father, so I will focus on my job. First and foremost it is to love You, the One God, with all my heart and all my soul and all my might and as my Lord Jesus added His command, to love my neighbor (every human) as myself.
Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Leviticus 19:18,
Matthew 22: 34-40, Mark 12:28-34, Luke 10-25-37, I John 5:1-4
Routine. Upset the routine and it shakes us all up. At prayer group on Tuesday we actually prayed to have our routines shaken up, our ordinary day become extraordinary and the normal be abnormal. WHY?
Routine dulls the senses, makes us comfortable, we are less observant, we don't question why we do things or what we are doing, we become complacent, things are familiar...
You add your own observations about routine. Is it bad to have routine? Absolutely not, it is necessary if we are to go about our day, accomplishing our job, making it through. However, it is good for the routine to get shaken because it DOES make us question things, wakes us up, makes us more aware of what we are doing and WHY!
This morning several things made my rocking reflection for baby's nap focus on MY job, MY routine. One was a response from my daughter on an offer to help; "it is not your job." Granted. Another was a response from my grandson when he was attempting to communicate to his mom and I offered an answer; "I am not talking to you, GG.". An apology was give for the tone but the response in both cases was right on (after reflection and I took ME out of the equation).
What is my job? It is NOT to offer help when help might intercept God's teaching and care for another person. Being sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit will guide when help is necessary and when it is interference. It is NOT my job to get in the middle of another's communication with unasked for advice. It IS my job to LISTEN, first to the voice of God through the Holy Spirit and second to the voices around me so that I will ask God continually for discernment in how and what to pray and/or speak.
Bottom line, shake up my routine, O God my Father, so I will focus on my job. First and foremost it is to love You, the One God, with all my heart and all my soul and all my might and as my Lord Jesus added His command, to love my neighbor (every human) as myself.
Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Leviticus 19:18,
Matthew 22: 34-40, Mark 12:28-34, Luke 10-25-37, I John 5:1-4
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Procrastination
I have been caring for my youngest grandson almost a year now. He was about 2 1/2 months when
my daughter Amy returned to work and I took over his daily care; traveling on Monday morning and
heading home on Friday evenings. The family is headed by husband Dan, with Amy they parent
three boys. Max is heading to second grade and is seven. Miles is in day care and he just turned
three and Eli will be heading to day care; he is 14 months.
About 6 months ago it seemed like a great idea to write down some of those rocking revelations I received as I cuddle and rock Eli to sleep. Hmmm, too bad I didn't follow through with it, but now is better than never (I think!).
It is nearing the end of my daily routine with Eli and my daughter's precious family and I realize how much I have gained through this daily relationship. I am comfortable and familiar in the family and it will create quite a hole in my life and heart as I return to "normal" living about 70 miles south with daily or weekend visits.
Today rocking this precious baby boy I knew I would miss his smile, his smell, his laugh and his cry and the way he tugs on my pants to pick him up. He brings me toys or the things he knows he shouldn't have with great joy. He is affectionate and curious and has a temper. He knows what he wants and makes it clear. His normally sanguine temperament can turn cloudy in a second when thwarted but then again, whose doesn't?
BUT I travel forward, one day at a time, one step at a time, with my eye focused on the One True God who knows ALL about each of us.
Thank you, God my Father, and my Lord Jesus who through the Spirit has given me all things I need, for these precious people and memories. I trust you infinitely.
About 6 months ago it seemed like a great idea to write down some of those rocking revelations I received as I cuddle and rock Eli to sleep. Hmmm, too bad I didn't follow through with it, but now is better than never (I think!).
It is nearing the end of my daily routine with Eli and my daughter's precious family and I realize how much I have gained through this daily relationship. I am comfortable and familiar in the family and it will create quite a hole in my life and heart as I return to "normal" living about 70 miles south with daily or weekend visits.
Today rocking this precious baby boy I knew I would miss his smile, his smell, his laugh and his cry and the way he tugs on my pants to pick him up. He brings me toys or the things he knows he shouldn't have with great joy. He is affectionate and curious and has a temper. He knows what he wants and makes it clear. His normally sanguine temperament can turn cloudy in a second when thwarted but then again, whose doesn't?
- I will miss nights with my grandson Max, watching Octonauts or Miles from Tomorrowland or Shaun the sheep or a Veggie tale. Talking about a story from the Bible and praying before we go to sleep.
- I will miss Miles looking for his GG and coming upstairs with me to put stickers on the window or just check things out.
- I will miss the door opening at 5:30 or so with Max and Miles coming home with mommy and wanting to know what's for snack or what's for dinner.
- I will miss dinners and enjoying the chaos around the dinner table attempting limited adult communication!
- I will miss daily interaction with my daughter and son-in-law; just keeping up with the family. Oh my, so many things I will miss that I have hidden in my heart.
BUT I travel forward, one day at a time, one step at a time, with my eye focused on the One True God who knows ALL about each of us.
Thank you, God my Father, and my Lord Jesus who through the Spirit has given me all things I need, for these precious people and memories. I trust you infinitely.
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