A Hurting Word...
Remember when HATS were in high style? Beautiful, wide-brimmed hats; flower-trimmed hats, veil-attached hats, even the Jackie Kennedy pillbox hat! You weren't dressed for church without one! Probably the funniest hat story I remember, though, is when our two-year-old turned his training-potty upside down (empty, thankfully...grin..), placed it on his head, and toddled down the hallway, saying, "H-h-hat, H-h-hat!" He's 16 now, and would love to know Mom is telling this story!
Hats are gorgeous, classy...and sometimes just plain funny! But *sometimes* the hats aren't really hats at all--they serve as titles for our many jobs...how many *hats* do you wear? I have a hatrack full--wife, mom, webmaster, writer, homemaker, church leader...and don't forget mom's taxi cap...While YOU make your own hatrack list, I will design a cool, automated, hat-changing machine...patent it, and send you one, free of charge! Sure..now when would I have time to do THAT!!
What to do? Take your mom hat off and go on strike? (Maybe we should try it, temporarily!) Take your spouse hat off and run away? (And you'd be a hatless, hate-filled spouse, left out in the cold!) Put one hat on top of another? (I once knew a dear, senile old man who actually did that, until a caring, college kid saw it. He tactfully helped him remove one of the hats.) Time to stop talking--all these hats are starting to get a bit tipsy...and now you wouldn't want me a bit tipsy, would you...grin....You can laugh with me, 'cause I know you have the same problems I do--perhaps a different set of hats, but you got them too. And now, hush...I hear the Lord calling...."Hats off! Lay them at My feet!" That's exactly what I need to do...how about you?
A Helping Word...or Two!
Come sit with me!
I want to commune with you!
"Lord, You really want me to take all these hats OFF? How? When? Where? Why? I'm too busy....(as I recite today's schedule)...Lord, YOU know how busy I am..."
He tenderly calls again, "My child, I KNOW...but it will be worth your time!
Come sit with me!"
"Help me, Lord. I really do want to commune with you...
You are my life and source of strength.
And if You have the time--so WILL I!"
"God, forgive me--help me take time to stop in the mad rush of my day to really commune with you. Early, midday, late--You're always there. And I know there is strength in the power of your presence--I've been there. I know there is peace in the stillness of your presence--I've been there. Help me, Lord--here I come again, needing YOU, needing Your touch, needing Your grace!"
"...Their strength is to sit still (Isaiah 30:7 KJV)."
Come share with me!
I want to communicate with you!
"Lord, you really want to talk with ME? About what? When? Where? Why? I'm so busy with all this e-mail, and there's speaking, writing...and telling my spouse how to do things the right way, and lecturing my kids how NOT to do things the wrong way...and...Lord, YOU know--I'm very busy talking to everyone else..."
He softly calls again, "My child, I KNOW...but it will be worth your time!
Communicate with ME!"
"Help me, Lord! I really do want to talk to you--
And if You have the time--so WILL I!
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6 KJV)
Come walk with me!
I want to counsel with you!
"Lord, you really want to COUNSEL with me? About my home? my family? my job? my friends? my church? my world? I cherish your precious Word--the Bible is my favorite Book. But Lord, must I take time for a PERSONAL word from you? Is it possible for you to speak deep within my heart? Can I hear words of guidance for my life? Can your Word come alive to my heart? Sounds wonderful, but that would take time...I'm busy, Lord..."
He gently calls again, "My child, I KNOW...but it will be worth your time!
Counsel with me!"
"Help me, Lord, I really do want to walk with you--
there's so much counsel I need...
And if You have the time--so WILL I!"
"...thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left (Isaiah 30:21 KJV)."
It's all a matter of the WILL--a choice we make to take time with Him. God knows the many hats we wear, but He also knows we need HIM. And HE will help us--maybe He will lighten the weight; maybe He will remove an unnecessary hat or two; maybe He will help us learn to focus on ONE HAT AT A TIME--now THAT may be the secret.....OK what IS the secret? I really believe it is choosing daily to lay ALL the hats down at His feet...hats off to the King of our lives...to the Ruler of our hearts and homes...to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Then let Him rearrange them, focus them, stack or unstack them--however HE chooses--and we WILL make it. HE, the Divine HATMAKER, who gave us these responsibilities, callings, and ministries, will be in total charge--now that's exactly what I need, how about you?
And that's just a thought or two--from my HATRACK to yours!
His Healing Words
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:1,2 KJV)."
"Lord, the hats are heavy, and I'm trying to wear them all at once. I can't! Please, Lord--I lay them all at your feet. Take them, put them into proper order and perspective; show me how to wear them rightly, to walk in Your Will. And most of all, help me take time to sit with you, to share with you, and to walk in your ways. I love You and I NEED you in this, my very busy life. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
And here's Jason's magic hat... 
...
One more hat for your collection!
NOTE: Jason, age 13, is the amateur magician of our family.
Visit The Family Room to find out more about the family hat Peggie wears!
Fun links!
Celebrate the Cat in the Hat's 50th Birthday!
Dr. Seuss's Seussville!
Please e-mail me to say hi.
A place to enjoy other devotionals!
Visit with my friend Barb! Food from the Master's Table
Peggie's List of Devotional Resources
Peggie's Place banner was "Made in Hawaii"
compliments of my friend Madelein of His Praise Maui!
