In the Middle of All the Stuff

Many People have issues with Mondays. The weekend is over. Time to go back to work. Nothing is going as planned. I've kind of had one of those Mondays, today. Now i'm aware that many bloggers say that it's better to sit down & write many blog posts in one sitting. Well, that's not how i work. I may have a list of many topics in mind that i refer to each week, but until i sit down to write, i'm never sure what message that God will put upon my heart.

www.Askmestudio.etsy.com

One of my favorite songs that they play on our local Christian radio station, is "This is the Stuff" by Francesca Battistelli. It reminds me of "one of those days".

"I lost my keys in the great unknown

And call me please

'Cause I can't find my phone.

"45 in a 35

Sirens & fines

When I'm running behind.

"This is the stuff

That drives me crazy

This is the stuff

That's getting to me lately

In the middle of my little mess

I forget how big I'm blessed

This is the stuff

That gets under my skin"

www.ifrogcrafts.etsy.com

Yesterday, i thought that i had my topic for today. Plus, i didn't think it would take me long to jot down my thoughts. (Don't try to tell me that God doesn't have a sense of humor. tee he.) I didn't lose my keys.....yet; or my phone. But i did have a nice, unexpected 45 minute chat with my BFF. (I thank You & praise You, Lord for my BFF!) Then there was an issue with our clothes dryer last night. I had an idea this morning what it might be & if so, it should be a quick & easy fix. (The keyword here is should.) I investigated & found that i was correct in what was wrong. However, since i am a plus size woman & the laundry room is very small, it definitely wasn't an "easy fix". But i kept at it & many times thanked God for providing His physical strength, the fact that even with my arthritis, i could get down on the floor and eventually, back up. But mostly, i was thankful that no one was around with a camera to record this task. I'm sure it would've been very entertaining to watch. However, by now, i'm way behind my scheduled plan.

www.gotmojo.etsy.com

"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business & make money.'

...Why you don't even know what will happen tomorrow.

...Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live & do this or that.'"

James 4:13,14a,15a (NIV)

I do know that God wants us to plan things, but we need to remember that He is the one in control. "This is the Stuff" continues to remind us

"But I've gotta bust

You know exactly what You're doing

Might not be what I would choose

But this is the stuff You use...

"To break me of impatience

Conquer my frustrations

I've got a new appreciation

It's not the end of the world"

So, my list of tasks didn't get done today as planned. (Oh well.) And my frustrations are gone.(Thank You Lord.) And it's not the end of the world. Lord willing, there will be a tomorrow & many days to get our tasks done. And each day, i will pray that God's will be done. 

www.shopsaplingpress.etsy.com/listing

Slow Down for God's Timing

"The Lord isn't slow about keeping His promises, as some people think He is. In fact, God is patient, because He wants everyone to turn from sin & no one to be lost."

II Peter 3:9 (CEV)

A friend of mine posted this verse on Facebook yesterday & it just reminded me of how hard it is for some to understand God's timing. And that one of the hardest things to do is to wait on His timing for certain things in our lives. After all, it is kind of an "unnatural" thing for us to do, considering the fast paced world that we live in. Meals are ready in a matter of minutes with fast food drive thrus & microwave ovens. If we want to we can record something from TV & fast forward through the commercials. And computers can send instant messages & have access to so much research material, rather than spending hours of looking for info at the library. It's no wonder that we have a hard time adjusting to the slower ways that God will work in our lives.

www.blockpartypress.etsy.com

It is nice that we do have fast food restaurants, computers & technology to help us. We can be more productive in a day's time than we could ever be in the past. But where we can get in trouble is when we can't downshift & remember that God usually has a much slower way of working things out in our lives. And God wants to work things out for us. But when we try  to move ahead of God's timing in a particular area of life, you may find very quickly that things may fall apart & completely unravel.

www.laurageorge.etsy.com

God does like to work on His specific timetable. And the sooner you can understand this is one of God's ways, the easier it will be for you to adjust & accept His timetable, including how He will work in your life. I believe the reason that God makes us wait at times, is to not only test our faith in Him, but also to prepare us for what He's making us wait for.

www.ifrogcrafts.etsy.com

Just realize that God's timing is much different than ours & sometimes, our patience will be tested.  

Seeking Refuge

www.americanartsgalleryetsy.com

Over the past weekend, our hearts & minds have gone back to the tragic events of 9-11-01. We relived our own lives & feelings as we watched the documentaries, the tributes & the miscellaneous footage that was shown on TV & over the internet. Personally, my heart broke all over again for what those at ground zero went through & the lives that were lost. Some of the footage that i saw yesterday, i hadn't seen before & i  was awed once again by this tragedy.


When we think about 9-11-01, i hope we also remember, how our country came together, not only patriotically, but more importantly, spiritually. Churches opened their doors for those who wanted to gather & pray. Public prayer was accepted & praised.  People sought refuge with their prayers. "Refuge" is defined as "Something or someone turned to for safety or assistance". 

www.juanitascrafters.etsy.com

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge & my fortress

my God, in whom I trust.' "

Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)

Ten years ago, there were so many flags on display throughout the country. Some were poster type prints that newspapers distributed. Many of those had the words "In God We Trust" printed on them also. No one seemed to complain. Or if they did, they didn't do it very loudly. Personally, i think it was God working to soften & open some hearts. And i'm sure that He succeeded. Yesterday, i proudly displayed our flag. I'm proud & thankful to be living in "One Nation Under God".

www.ifrogcrafts.etsy.com

As a nation, & individually, we need to continue to seek refuge with our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. Not just when we think we need Him - because we need Him 24/7. We don't know what may happen tomorrow. We didn't know on 9-10-01 what would happen on 9-11-01. We don't know, from second to second, what our future holds. But i know who holds our future.

"God is our refuge & strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.

Though its waters roar & foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

Be still, & know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations

I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:1-3,10 (NIV)

Happy Labor Day

Hope & pray that you all have a fun & safe Labor Day!!! Thank you all for reading &/or following my blog. You are all an inspiration to me & keep me blogging. {{{Hugs}} to you all!

www.ifrogcrafts.etsy.com

May God's light shine through all of us to each & every one that we meet.