Piddly Things

For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.  Psalm 9:4

When I was a little girl, every time my feelings got hurt, I would run to my mom and tell her all about it.  While holding my hand, she would listen intently to every word that I had to say.  When I was finished with every detail of this event, she would pat my hand and say, "Tracy, why worry about such piddly things?  In the grand scheme of things, this is a very small thing, and by tomorrow it will be forgotten."

She was usually right.

As an adult, when our feelings get hurt, it's harder to put it behind us. Sometimes we still make mountains out of mole hills.  

It's comforting to know that God hears all things, sees all things and knows all things, and that one day He will make all things right.

But this morning, I was thinking about that...

1 John 3:2 tells us, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

I asked myself this question: 'The moment I look upon my Saviour's face, will piddly things really matter anymore?'

The answer?  No.  So, why should they now?

    But that's just me!

I can Only Imagine

Bart Millard

MercyMe

I can only imagine,

What it will be like, 

When I walk by Your side,

I can only imagine,

What my eyes would see,

When Your face is before me,

I can only imagine.

Surrounded by Your Glory,

What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for You Jesus?

Or in awe of you be still?

Will I stand in Your presence?

or to my knees, will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah?

Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine.

I can only imagine,

When that day comes,

And I find myself,

Standing in the Son,

I can only imagine,

When all I will do,

Is forever, forever worship you,

I can only imagine!

Prepared

And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.  2 Chronicles 12:14

I like to think that I prepare myself and my family for anything.  If I see the weather channel predicting a blizzard, I like to make sure we have enough groceries to last not only the duration of the storm but for a few days afterwards.  My husband makes sure we have gas for the generator in case we lose power.  Before we leave for vacations, we make sure we have made hotel reservations, and pack our suitcases with the proper clothing for not only the activities we want to participate in, but according to the weather conditions.  When we invite friends over for dinner, we make sure to have our home clean and inviting and serve things we know our guests will enjoy.  Before going to the grocery store, I make a list of the items I need to make sure I don't forget anything.  Before we leave for church, we grab our Bibles and notebooks before heading out the door...

but wait!

What about our hearts?

The very first time I read this verse in 2 Chronicles, it felt like my heart skipped a beat.

Am I missing the most important part of being prepared?

Have I taken the time to pray for my Pastor, the choir, the Sunday School Teachers and the Nursery Workers?  Have I prayed for visitors, for souls to be saved?

If I haven't, then I'm not prepared for worshipping the Lord.

A startling thought, isn't it?

The mechanics of Sunday Worship can make us 'think' we are prepared for worship, but it's not until we meet the Lord with our hearts that we are truly prepared.

I want to be prepared!

    But that's just me!

"A private relationship of worshipping God is the greatest essential element of spiritual fitness."

-Oswald Chambers

Accepting Help

They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.  Isaiah 41:6

We had a few inches of snow fall in our area over night, and while outside cleaning off my car, my Pastor pulled up and got out of his car and offered to do it for me.  At first, I refused; obviously he was on his way to do an errand or to meet with someone, but deep down I knew I refused because I have a hard time accepting help.  I have no problem helping others when I see or hear of a need, but for some reason I have a hard time accepting help.  I don't like the thought of putting someone out, or being a bother to someone, but then the Lord gave me a taser-like-jolt and said, 'It's your pride.'

YIKES!

I smiled and handed my ice scraper over to my Dear Pastor and let him work.

In John 13, Peter had the same problem.  No way was he going to let Jesus wash his feet, but when Jesus told Peter that if he didn't allow Him to wash his feet, then Peter would have no part with Him.

Jesus gave us a beautiful picture of humility-

To serve...and to BE served.

"For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done unto you." John 13:15

I learned something this morning: when I don't accept help or a kindness that someone wants to do for me, I am robbing that person from being a blessing.

From now on I will graciously accept their assistance, and thank them from a heart of gratitude-

That way we both walk away blessed!

    But that's just me!

Sweet Savour

For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ....2 Corinthians 2:15a

As believers in Christ, our lives tell a story.  We are reflections of God's word to others by the words we speak and by our actions.  Would my life invite others to want to know my Saviour, or would they turn up their noses and run?

My heart's desire is to be a sweet savour unto my Lord, but I will be honest; sometimes I just stink!  A bad attitude, negative thoughts, pride...should I continue?  Often times I find myself in the same quandary the Apostle Paul talked about in Romans 7:15-23.  The inward struggle of doing what I hate, and not doing what I know to be right!

Oh, to immediately get-over-self, and focus on Christ the moment I begin to entertain such thoughts!  The Spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak!

So how do I get rid of my foul odor and get back to a sweet-smelling perfume for my Lord?

1-Recognize my enemy: pride, hurt feelings, selfishness, unmet expectations...etc.

2-Confess those sins to the Lord- 1John 1:9

3-Claim the Victory through Christ! 1 John 5:4

4-Press On! Philippians 3:13-14

Ephesians 5:1-2 says, Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.

When I follow Christ the way I should, and walk in love, just like Jesus, then I too will be a sweet-smelling savour to God.

...I don't want to stink!

    But that's just me!

Thank You Notes

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Ephesians 5:20

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

When I was just a little girl, probably just old enough to write a complete sentence, my mom made sure I wrote thank you notes to family and friends for gifts and for small acts of kindness; even when I didn't like the so-called-gift, or activity in which I was invited.  After every birthday, holiday, weekends with my grandparents, I often found myself sitting at our kitchen table with cute little pictures I had colored or drawn, or just a simple College Ruled notebook to write out my thanks...even when I didn't want too.

My mom wanted to teach me to be thankful for everything.  To this day, I still make sure to write out thank you notes.

Thanks mom!

God wants us to be thankful FOR and IN all things.  It's easy to be thankful FOR all things but it's a lot harder to be thankful IN all things.  

C.S. Lewis once said, "We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good, if bad, because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country."

When was the last time you sent God a thank you note?  No stamp required.

Dear God,

Thank you!  

I love you,

Tracy

But that's just me!

Transparency

"Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable, be honest and transparent anyway."  Mother Teresa

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  James 5:16

After church Sunday night, there was a Ladies Meeting.  Usually such meetings consist of making plans for up-coming events, organizing meals, decorating, or brain-storming for new ideas and ministries.

This meeting was unlike any Ladies Meeting I have been to in a long time.

I witnessed a beautiful thing...

A Dear Lady decided to openly share with all the ladies of our church, what was going on in her life and the life of her family.  The more she shared her heart and asked for prayer, the more my love for her grew.  This act of honesty and vulnerability refreshed my Spirit.

She and her family have a long road ahead of them, but by sharing her heart with us, she became transparent:  Real.  The results of her transparency will allow us as her Sisters-in-Christ to pray for her and her family more specifically.  To be available to help her when she needs it the most.

With results like that, it's worth the risk.

God help us to be real, not just for our sakes, but for those around us.

Shannon L. Alder once said, "One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone."

I want to really see others...

    and I want them to really see me...

        But that's just me!

Remember

In Matthew 16:6-12, Jesus warned his disciples to take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.  He was trying to teach them something Spiritual, but His disciples could only think of the physical...they forgot to bring bread with them.  They were so worried about the fact that they brought no bread, that it caused them to miss what Jesus was teaching them right then and there, and it caused them to forget two previous miracles.  Not only did Jesus have to point out their misunderstanding, but He had to REMIND them of the miracles.  Verses 8-10 says, 'O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?  Do ye yet not understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?  Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?'  Jesus was referring to Matthew 14:13-21 and Matthew 15:29-38.

I wonder if the disciples were embarrassed by their forgetfulness?

If you were to look in the margins of my Bible, you would find dates, names and situations of times past.  I've written them there so that I will never forget when the Lord brought me through heartache, loneliness, fear, anxiety, poor health, and even the times of joy, happiness, protection and answered prayer.  I never want to forget all the things the Lord has done for me and my family.

It's easy to remember blessings of today, and answered prayers from yesterday, but as time goes by we tend to forget all the things God has done for us on a daily basis.

Maybe it's because we aren't looking for the blessings?  Psalm 68:19 says, Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.  Selah

I realize that we won't be able to remember every single thing that the Lord has done for us, we're human, and even the Bible tells us that the world itself could not contain the books that should be written if everything Jesus has done was written down, (John 21:25) but the point is, everyday we must remind ourselves of Who God is, that God is Good, and never forget His daily blessings.

We have much to be thankful for...

    But that's just me!

"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some."  Charles Dickens

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues."  Cicero