Showing posts with label busy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label busy. Show all posts

Thursday, April 26

A Mother's Heart...Unmet Needs



Harried from too many tasks on her day’s schedule, she stumbled into bed, falling asleep almost before her head hit the pillow.

Rising in the morning, she had a strange feeling something wasn’t right, but she could not put her finger on it. Dismissing it, she hurriedly dressed and mumbled a few quick prayers.

With four kids, one husband, a slew of pets, and a busy calendar, she had plenty to do each day.

Throughout her day, thoughts of her weaknesses filled her head:

I wish I could handle my time better.
I wish I had more strength to meet all the challenges that pop up every day.  
Why can’t I forgive my best friend?
I wish I had more patience with the children.
I wish I had more joy and love.
Why can’t I ever be at peace?
I wish I knew how to handle my in-laws.
I don’t understand why I’m so agitated with my husband.
I wish I knew what to do about...

The thoughts hounded her all day. As she trudged through each hour mumbling her wish list, the uncomfortable feeling that something was wrong hung over her head like a black shroud.

Late that afternoon, she died. Upon entering heaven, she stood before Jesus Who greeted her with open arms. After falling at His feet, she felt His loving hand on her shoulder.

Helping her up, He took her hand and said, “Come with Me.”

“Where are we going?”

“I want to show you something.”

He led her to a beautiful building. Entering, they strolled down a long, endless hallway with innumerable doors on each side. Each door had a wooden plaque on it engraved with someone’s name. Jesus stopped at the door with her name on it and opened the door.

To her amazement, she saw row after row of stacked boxes, piled higher than she could see. Each box was stamped with a date of her life. She noticed that a few dates were missing.

“What...”

Jesus interrupted her. Knowing her unspoken questions, He answered, “Each box contains the necessities you needed for each day of your life, but you rarely claimed them. All you needed – strength, power, love, joy, patience, guidance – they were here all along.

“My Father and I would have given you everything that was missing, but you did not believe you could receive from Us. All was planned for you in advance of your need. If only you would have believed, you would have received and your days would have gone much smoother.

“A mother has many needs throughout her day. Most of all, she needs someone who knows her struggles, her frustrations, her weaknesses, and her tears. And that one is Me. I would be all to a wanting mother’s heart, filling her every need and every desire.

“If mothers would only call on Me more often, I would soothe their hearts and gladly fill them with My love, joy, peace, and patience. But they must come to Me and claim My help, otherwise the answers sit on the shelf, just as you see here.

“Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God?”*

She awoke. Dazed, she shook her head as if that would help to clear it. I’ve been dreaming. It was all a dream! But it was so real.

In the early hours of the morning while still dark and the family slept, she went straight to her Bible and spent time with the Lord. As the sun birthed the day, the family arose and the daily schedule rolled on.

She went about all her chores with the Scripture echoing in her heart and mind, “Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe...”* She praised the Lord, claiming all He had for her every need.

“For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].” (Mark 11:24 Amp)


*John 11:40 Amplified

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Monday, January 25

Where's the Peace?


Peace….sometimes elusive, isn’t it?

The Bible says Jesus is Immanuel, God with us, always, and He is Jehovah-shalom, the Lord our peace.

At the Last Supper, in preparing the disciples for His death and departure, Immanuel spoke many things to them, and said this, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27 NKJV)

However, our Immanuel peace is sometimes in a state of flux, sometimes disintegrating. When chores, church, family, and all the rest, bulge our itineraries, they hold us captive and our prayer time usually suffers, slipping into oblivion. We end up with the “captivity of activity.”

Martha received Jesus into her home, yet, she busied herself with other things rather than sit at His feet. Jesus scolded her, “You are anxious and troubled about many things.” (Luke 10:41 NKJV) Can’t you see Him shaking His head and, in essence, saying, “Martha, Martha, you’re distracted with too many anxieties and cares; you have too much going on in your head; there’s a crowd in there making an uproar, disturbing your peace.”

When we are busied with the cares and anxieties of life, making no time for sitting at the feet of our most Beloved for intimate conversations, we relegate Him to a waiting room. Our peace is then at risk.

How often do you ignore Jesus’ command to “not worry about your life” (Matt. 6:25a NIV)? It would be to our advantage to heed Paul’s word, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” (Phil. 4:6a TLB) The Message says it this way, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayer, letting God know your concerns.”

The lack of worry and anxiety sabotaging our faith and cluttering our prayers has a promise, as Paul tells us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7 NLT)

What rolls around in your head making an uproar, disturbing your peace? Are you sitting at the Lord’s feet or have you put Him on a waiting list?

I pray the same for all of you what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thess. 3:16 NKJV)

Immanuel, God with us, Jehovah-shalom, the Lord our peace, always.



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