A Hurting Word...
When Peggie first began her Web site, she installed a chat room in her home and it was fun for a season - it provided food for thought that's turned into a devotional! Actually, I just found two more words to rhyme with it, and thought you'd enjoy having fun with Dr. Seuss this week! I enjoy a good play on words, and if we can twist it into a devotional, we may even learn from it! If Dr. Seuss could do it, so can we!
A Helping Word...or Two!
Seasoned out!...Chatterboxes...we all know them....some of us "are" them....and that's ok! God has made each of us special--some of us are non-stop talkers; others are good listeners. We need both--unless you enjoy talking to yourself, or listening to nobody!! But all of us, at some point, can get "seasoned out" - the salt shaker runs dry, we burn out, our testimony is not as vibrant as it used to be; we're just tired. We've tried SO hard to be God's witness--and that's the problem. We've TRIED. If we can stop trying so hard, maybe the Lord can start working through us more effectively.
A true witness is not one who strives to get out the Gospel message. A true witness is one who lets the Lord live the message through him--in normal, everyday conversations; in natural, easy-going manners. Through your chatty or your non-chatty personality! The salt of God's love and a word in season adds just a "touch" of flavoring to our Christ-dwelt lives. It's as natural as breathing. When we learn that lesson, when we can "be still" long enough to know that HE is God, then we can relax, smile, and be the tasty seasoning God meant us to be in a tasteless, flavorless world! And He'll be there to help us--He always is!
"Be still, and know that I am God...
(Psalm 46:10 KJV)."
Struck out!...Baseball...this is the "season," and although I'm not a sports nut, I pride myself in a trivia fact of our family history. My dad, as a little boy in New York City, saw Babe Ruth hit some famous home runs in Yankee Stadium; and that's not all! He actually shook hands with Babe Ruth....he loved to tell us that story...now why didn't he get two autographs for my boys....grin...
How many strike-outs did Babe Ruth have? I haven't the foggiest; I only know, even as a non-baseball fan, he had alot of home runs! And of course, in our Christian lives, we'd like to be that kind of star--successful in our living and in our working for the Lord, BUT...you guessed it...how often we strike out--in our relationships, our personal lives, our families, our ministries. We try SO hard..and THAT'S the problem. When we stop trying to do it all by ourselves, when we let the Lord stand at home plate with us, when we are teachable and pliable, then the home runs will come--naturally and in His strength, not ours! And if we DO strike out? If we do fall in the dust? We pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and try again--in HIS strength, not ours! And He'll be there to help us--He always is!
"...Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord...(Exodus 14:13 KJV)."
Stressed out!...How many hats do you wear? I'm a mom, wife, homemaker, writer, webmaster, church department head--that's SIX hats--and if you're a busy person, you can probably count as many on your head. Rising almost as tall as "The Cat in the Hat!" Is that enough to stress out a normal person?? Ask MY family--on days when I become a crier, a sigher, a flyer (off the handle, that is)--too many hats will make anyone top-heavy, including ME--I must visit "Words from the Well" this week and read this devotional for myself! For you see, like all of you, I stress out too--I don't rely on the Lord to help me balance my life and my responsibilities--I panic, and I end up in trouble!
So what to do? We try so hard--and that's the problem! Shall we take off some of the hats? Which one? For most of us, there's not ONE hat we can toss in the closet--well, maybe one, if we think hard enough! And we may need to do that! But beyond the common sense and wisdom the Lord expects us to use, He offers relief and refreshing. He knows the stresses of the 90s, of all of us--working moms, family men, single parents, career singles, the widowed, the divorced--or whatever category YOU are in! He asks us to simply sit in His presence each day, gain strength and serenity from Him; and then, yes, let's be practical--go out for a brisk walk, eat and sleep right, lighten up--and wear the hats a little more loosely! He'll be there to help us--He always is!
"Sit still, my daughter...(Ruth 3:18 KJV Public Domain)."
Are you seasoned out? struck out? stressed out? All three? The Lord is so patient with us, whatever our ups and downs, ins and outs--and if you're feeling "out" today, know that He does not condemn or fault you. WE do that to OURSELVES! He understands, and waits for you to turn to Him. He wants you to experience His grace, compassion, mercy, and love today. Take some time "out" to talk to Him about it--you'll be so glad you did!
And that's just a word...or two, from my heart to yours!
His Healing Word
"Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord...(Psalm 130:1 KJV)."
"Lord, I try so hard, and yet so many times, I find myself seasoned out, struck out, and stressed out. I need Your help--it's YOUR Words, Work, and Wisdom that will bring me victory. Help me to lean on You each day, in every circumstance, and in every difficulty. Help me to to hear Your voice of assurance and strength. And then help me to move OUT into Your world this week as its salt, its strength, and its smile! In Jesus' Name, Amen."
