Tag Archives: control

But~Five Minute Friday

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“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

This Queen Bee has a Big But

One Christmas not long ago, my mom got me these “Queen Bee” slippers. Not only did my feet slide right in comfortably, I liked to believe the title fit perfectly in my life as well. You know, in charge of my “hive,” anticipating what comes in and goes out, and with all the hard work paying off sweetly? In other words, I like to be the queen in command of everything. Maybe you already knows how that has turned out. Unfortunately, my prayer life suffers from my trying to wear the crown of control too.

When I pray, I earnestly tell God that I desire to be radically used by Him.  The words however, are usually not yet off my tongue before I feel a tightening in my chest and the next breath caught in my throat. Yep, there it is.…I know it and God definitely knows it because it’s a reoccurring reaction in my prayer time…..It’s my BIG BUT getting in the way! (Sometimes I crack myself up, haha!)

Seriously, wanting to be used by God, to hear his calling and answer is my sincere desire, BUT:  I want to do it without leaving my comfort zone, sacrificing too much, or suffering in the process.  In other words, I want to do God’s work BUT do it MY way like a “Queen Bee.” Can you relate because you also have a big but like mine?

Remember with me the “Parable of the Talents,” told in Matthew 25:14-30.  Jesus shared with his listeners a story about a man who gave his servants some of his money to take care of in his absence. Two of the servants used the money they’d been given to make more for their master.  The last servant was too afraid to take a risk…he had a “big but” if you will; and so, he buried the coins only to return what he’d been given.  I’m afraid I’m an awful lot like that third servant by offering a poor return on God’s investment.

God entrusts us with talents, time, money, and other gifts.  What we do with them is up to us. Will we use them to serve God or will we, ME, make excuses or let fear keep us from doing what He asks of us?  So, what’s a gal (or guy) with a BIG BUT to do? I don’t have it all figured out yet but here’s where I’m learning we need to start:

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.  May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on firm footing.”
Psalm 143:10 (NIV) (emphasis mine)

Did you catch that? We’re not supposed to do the work God has for us on our own. (You’d think I’d have learned this by now). It’s God’s instruction and guidance we need to depend on to make the task before us attainable. It’s also important to be willing to put one foot in front of the other and “walk the walk” through our everyday lives in preparation for all God calls us to do. 

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for
this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

I’m certainly not there yet, maybe you aren’t either, but we need to remember it won’t happen all at once. However, if we’re willing, I believe with prayer, practice, perseverance, and taking baby steps as we follow after God, our BIG buts will shrink until they disappear from our prayers all together. I look forward to that time when they’re finally “behind” me. Will you join me in praying to be willing and take the first step on our “but-free” journey of doing God’s will, God’s way, and following the true King’s lead? It’s about time I take my crown off for good. How about you?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses
to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down,
 especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of they awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)  

Joining once again with http://www.fiveminutefriday.com writing to the prompt “But”.

Build ~Five Minute Friday/#Write28Days

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Building Towers

“a time to tear down and a time to build,” Ecclesiastes 3:3b (NIV)/ Pixabay

I’ve recently returned home after spending a few days with my grandsons.  Oh, my heart is happy! We made a tent, read stories, played on the swings, and blew bubbles. Along with other little boy fun and games we also spent time together using blocks to build towers.  Here’s what I’ve noticed over the years, we adults are very protective of our towers!  While the wee ones like laying one block upon the other, their favorite part of building is actually the knocking down! And they are good at knocking down!  I’m ashamed to say that there have been times that I’ve had to bite my tongue because I was about to whine (or even get a little angry) when they chose my tower to topple!  Silly, right?

But aren’t we the very same way about building our towers in real life? I don’t know about you, I like to be the architect and contractor in one! In other words, I want control over my tower! We carefully stack our “blocks”: the job we have, where we live, who we marry, the goals we pursue, the people we spend time with and the tower gets higher and higher. We’re in command of it all. That is….until we’re not. The promotion we were counting on doesn’t come….a block wobbles. Someone we care about betrays us…..blocks fall. The phone rings and life is never the same…..the tower topples to the ground. We whine. We worry. We cry. We. Get. Mad.

Here’s what I’m learning: Our towers will always get knocked down.

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for my sake,
you will save it.” Matthew 16:25 (NLT)

“You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” Proverbs 19:21

In other words, we need to stop trying to do the constructing ourselves and hand the job over to the true Creator, allowing Him to do the designing. When we build on the foundation that is Christ, our towers may teeter in the winds of life; circumstances may rearrange our blocks, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. Our towers will not fall.

I’m going to be honest; it’s not easy for me!  Just like I wanted to protect and keep the carefully made tower I built with my grandsons, I desire to control my everyday.  Silly, right? Maybe you’ve been watching your own towers get knocked over, too.  It’s time we put away the self-made architects’ plans, give up the contractor’s hats, and instead become laborers building a life under God’s direction.   A life that when given up, is actually saved. It doesn’t get better built than that!

“For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
1 Corinthians 3:9 (NIV)

Linking up again with the wonderful writers at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com and at http://www.anitaojeda.com

 

 

A Baby Bottle Lesson

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"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21 NIV

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 NIV

My baby bottle years have been way behind me, that is, until my grandson was recently born.  Now, I’m reveling in every moment of holding him close in my arms while he drinks from his bottle.  This precious time is a blessing and a joy and believe it or not it has reminded me of a truth about myself:  I am a planner. (That’s a nice way of saying I’m a control freak)  At home, when I was teaching school, on vacation, at church events, in retirement, and on and on; I’ve wanted things to go the way I thought they should go.  A lot of my energy has been spent organizing, designing, formulating, and figuring out how to navigate life with as few disappointments, unwelcome surprises, or bumps as possible along the way.  Now don’t get me wrong, in day to day life, my strategies have been useful in accomplishing many things that had to be done,  but being so wrapped up in doing things myself I believe has caused me to be missing out  in my relationship with God.  Here’s where a bottle feeding helped me see a little more clearly.

Being almost five months old, my grandson has started trying to help feed himself.  He clumsily brings his hands up and attempts to wrap them around the bottle,  In doing so, more times than not, his hands get in the way and the flow of milk stops or he pulls the bottle completely from his mouth.  The result is usually a leg kicking, arm flailing, red faced yell.   In my hand I have everything he requires to be nourished and to satisfy his needs.  I offer it to him freely and with love.   All my grand baby needs to do is open his mouth and accept the life giving gift.  Do you see where this is leading?  Here’s my ah-ha moment……

How often have my attempts at planning life out my way actually hindered my receiving what God was freely and lovingly offering me?  Thinking I know what’s best, have I pushed unseen blessings away?

Have I faced times of famine simply because I’ve strived to do things on my own? 

Watching Carson trying so hard to feed himself has caused me to pause and reflect.  I’m reminded that God has me, and he has you, cradled in His arms and He’s offering us His very best for our lives.  

Life certainly can cause us to kick and scream while teaching us that we’re not in control. It’s time for me to give up my clumsy attempts at directing my purpose and my path.  I need to do less planning and more praying.  Let go of my timelines and trust God to provide everything I need at just the right moment. Maybe you’re ready to give up your control too.  Together let’s loosen our grip and open ourselves  to “drink” in the life He has waiting for us.

I have written this post as part of #livefreeThursday.  The prompt was “I give up”. Want to read more? Go to http://www.tsuzanneeller.com