The simple task of folding a load of towels is not always simple. Especially with two littles running around. Folding a load of towels, multiple times, due to the little humans knocking them over, unfolding and throwing them all over the room when I turn around for one second to grab another to fold.
During the midst of the craziness, God revealed to me a simple yet powerful lesson. Reminds me of how God must feel when He gives us a simple task and we completely mess it up. He probably feels how I do when my crazy, little humans throw my newly folded towels all over the room; yet, I try to happily (but most of the time reluctantly) pick the towels back up and refold them. God picks us back up with love and puts up back together when we do not fulfill His simple task He has given us. He forgives us and lifts us up (without the reluctant part). The Lord gives us multiple chances, even if we do not realize it at times. As I see my children attempting to help me fold a towel that has already been folded (once or twice or thrice), or throwing them around the room, it is in a similar way of how we human beings may try our best at things, and still fail. Or we may just completely mess up and throw the towel across the room. God grants us grace upon grace upon grace. So today I will refold the same load of towels multiple times. Joyfully. Because God gives me multiple chances, joyfully.
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Madison came to me this afternoon with this bud from a plant in our back yard. When her friend was over, a week or so ago, Madison said she picked it and gave it to her. She said her friend "forgot the flower in her room" while they were playing and she went home without it. Madison was very upset (she's a rather dramatic three year old if you can just imagine) about her friend leaving the flower and that it had died. I told her: "When you pick a flower away from the big plant, it dies because it does not have anything to live off of."
Then the Lord spoke to me. Like, really spoke to me. I immediately stopped after saying that to her and thought deeply... Wow. If we succumb to the the things of this world that are not of Jesus and stray away from what we are created for and what we have already found and have known in Christ, we will eventually, spiritually 'die,' even if only for a moment... or for a period longer than we desire sometimes. When we get out of our routine of seeking God, we are easily wrapped up in things of this world and that are not of Jesus and not pleasing to the Kingdom. (Stay with me here. It all makes sense in the end, I promise.) I am so guilty of this. I tend to get wrapped up in my daily school work and weekly deadlines and being mom and wife that I forget- or even choose not to open my bible, even if I know or feel that I desperately need to. Why do I do this? Anyone else with me here? During the thought process of listening to God, I was reminded of the verse in scripture: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the beaches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." -John 15:4-5 Wow. That speaks volumes, doesn't it? It does to me. Phew. I am forever grateful that I cannot be plucked form His hand, even if I am not as obedient as I plan to be at times. Those times that I feel apart from Him by not praying or reading scripture for a period of time, although I am not truly, completely away from Him, I feel that I am and I can tell that I am "doing nothing." When I finally take a step back, slap myself back into shape and pray and have devotion with God, I can see the fruit he allows me to bear. I cannot bear fruit unless I abide in the vine. I must continue to abide in Christ, so I do not spiritually die. Let us not be like the flower that wilted and died once it was pulled away from the larger, greater plant. Let us abide in the vine. Let us bear good fruits because we are intact with that of which is greater than us. Amen. A few nights ago, while I was putting my firstborn to bed (she is three), we were talking about how God loves her so much and made her special and unique in her own way, and that He gave her to Mommy and Daddy to live with us and for us to love and take care of during her time here on Earth. We also talked about how He loves us so much that He places us here on Earth to find and know Jesus, to live in happiness in Jesus and to tell others of the truth of Jesus' love in hopes that everyone else will love Jesus too (kid-proof version)! (P.s. her sweet little voice saying "Jee-sus" has to be one of the sweetest sounds!)
This morning, when I was reading in Philemon and Hebrews (oh and making my grocery list, you have to multitask when you have two littles running around like crazies.) I was reminded of the verses at the beginning of Hebrews: "For to which of the Angels did God ever say, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"? ...And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's Angels worship him." -Hebrews 1:5-6
Also in Hebrews, 5:5-6 it reads "...You are my Son, today I have begotten you; as he says also in another place." This is to be in reference to John 3:16 where it says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son..." And so all who believes this truth will sing of His name and worship Him. Whomever shall believe of this truth will have eternal life and never perish. How beautiful is this truth. Amazing, it is. In Philemon it says, verses 6 and 7, "...and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in is for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you." As in 1 Peter 3:15 it reads, "...but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect..." God is appointing us to always share our faith, so we will become more knowledgable in the process, so we may honor Christ and so we will be gentle while doing so. Also, in Hebrews 1:10-12 it says "You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heaven are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end." I believe him to be describing here that the world will come to an end one day, but our God and His heavens will remain resolute. These verses are in reference to Genesis where God created the heavens and He then created the earth. I just really enjoy when verses in the bible intertwine. It is so beautifully written without flaw. His words are truth and it is recognized again and again through the bible where there are multiple reminders of what has been done, what is promised and what is commanded of us. "And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken." -Ecclesiastes 4:12 A three strand cord is not easily torn. When we have communion with God and fellowship with our spouse or friends of accountability, then we are able to resist what is not of the Lord. Let us be obedient, O God. Please help me to keep my eyes on You, Lord. Let us remember, always, that You do not perish and You love us unconditionally. Help us to be gentle and remember to share your truths as freely as you give them. Amen. One thing I feel that sticks out like a sore thumb about myself personally, is I struggle with keeping my eyes on Jesus throughout my day. Am I the only one? No? Okay phew.. thank goodness. I know I am imperfect and if I did have my eyes set on God 100% of my day, then I would in fact be perfect. And let me tell ya, that's not the case! So, knowing that I am not, I am able to provide myself with some grace. I find myself regretting a lot of things I say in small conversation with friends and family. I really hate it, actually. You would think if I hated something so much, I would be able to stay focused on this and correct it. I guess the enemy knows a weak spot of mine is conversing with others in small talk and he realizes I slip up and often say ignorant things that are not glorifying God. ^But listen, Devil! I rebuke that in The Name of Jesus! Thanks for reminding me, but God has forgiven me! My prayer each morning is to only say, do and think as if our Maker were standing right beside me. Start with Jesus-Stay with Jesus-End with Jesus. Amen. Now, the things I say, others may not think a thing about them. I don't even think anything about it until I have been sitting there for a bit and maybe the conversation is over and I am reflecting on what we discussed then BAM. It hits me. "Kalie, why did you say THAT!?" It was not holy. It was not encouraging. It was not thoughtful, or inspiring or nice, even. It was not of Jesus. Why? Because I am a sinner. Who is saved by grace. I am given grace upon grace upon grace. Upon grace! {Thank you, Jesus!} Things like this happen so that I will turn to God and repent, leaning on him for forgiveness and understanding. I often think about apologizing to the other person(s) I had been talking with, but then I think "they probably didn't even realize what I said and doing so would just make me look like a bigger bozo." I need God to intervene in all relationships and all situations in my life so those relationships and situations may be holy and Christ filled. Because if it were any other way, I would succumb to any or all things that are not of Jesus. I am not whole. Jesus made me whole when he died on the Cross and when I accepted that fact. How beautiful is the love portrayed on the cross? For you. For me.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 "...just as you are doing." Wow. He believes in us. He knows we are capable of regular, holy conversation and encourages us to strive for that always. My prayer today. And everyday! That I will only be of encouragement in and godly way for others, so they will then encourage me. |
Kalie LandChristian wife, mama, student, and homemaker inspired by Jesus and the simple things in life. Humbled by our gracious God. Aspiring to make a difference any way possible by trying to be the loyal Christian that God is molding me to be. Archives
November 2016
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