daily IMPACT by selahV today

I Can Hardly Wait

You know.  Those situations we all long for at one time or another.  The birth of a child.  The day the child speaks your name.  The day he takes his first steps into your arms.  The day he gives you a for-real hug.  The day he says I love you.  You long for those moments.  Precious.

As they grow, you seek a deeper relationship.  You long to share in their dreams, to revel in their joys, to attend to their needs and to reward them with their deepest desires.  You want to guide that child and keep it from harm.  You want to know he knows you love him.  You want him to love you back.

That's God.  God wants these things for us.  He loves to hear His children's laughter and joy.  He loves when we call Him Father.  He loves to provide our needs and share in our dreams.  He is God.  He is our Creator.  What about us?

Do we seek Him with the same enthusiasm?  Do we anticipate the moments we can spend with Him?  Do we embrace each day with Him on our minds?

 "As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness; I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You]." Psalm 17:15

We can hardly wait for the new house to be constructed.  School to be out.  Winter to be over.  The job to begin.  The degree we've been working for.  The career to be realized.  We can hardly wait for that date to arrive.  The weekend.  The party.  The wedding.  The interview.  Retirement. There is nothing wrong with being excited about life in general.  It's wonderful to be alive.

But do we get excited about the daily moments we have to behold the face of God...to fellowship with Him?  To consider Him and His goodness and might and mercy?  Do we anticipate waking up to a day of communing with Him?  Do we care more about His presents to us than His presence with us?  Are we ever "fully satisfied" to be with the God and guardian of our souls?  selahV

REACH OUT TO JESUS

Reach Out to Jesus from peter lumpkins on Vimeo.

I CAN DO IT MYSELF

Four-year-old Kinsey struggled to open her candybar.  I offered to open it for her, but she insisted, "I can do it."  After several tries, frustrated fingers handed me the Kit-Kat and I tore open the heavy plastic.  Kinsey saw the broken pieces of her candybar and was not happy.  "It's broken."

"Well, sometimes when we try to do things ourselves, that happens.  Next time, let Grama do it for you, okay?"  Kinsey agreed, "When I get bigger I can do it."

I smiled knowingly.  We are never too big to need help.  We are never so able that we cannot benefit from another's assistance.  With God all things are possible.  Not with age, or wisdom, or knowledge, or experience.

"I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Yes, sometimes we are able to do things ourselves.  However it is through Christ we are able to do things for God.  Through Christ--not through our efforts, our energy, our desire, our ability, our talent, our understanding, our wit, our wisdom.  Through Christ.  He makes all things possible.  Jesus.  He fills a room of hatred with love.  He lights up a darkened mind.  He tears open the veil of blindness surrounding a lost soul's eyes.  When we try to do things, relying upon our knowledge and education and logic, we often find the results as broken as Kinsey's Kit-Kat.  When we yield to Christ and pray and ask Him to move in a situation, to tear open the difficult rather than force our way in, He takes the circumstances from our extended hands of need and is able to open doors we only longed for.  selahV

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I FEEL YOUR NEED FOR REFRESHMENT

I need it, too.  It's been a long week. 

Today I spent dusting, sweeping, and scouring.  I'm whooped.  As I wiped away the dust layered upon my furniture, I thought of times I could have been a bit more agreeable, a little less aggravated.  I scrubbed a hardened chunk of Gummy Bear from my tile floor and thought how stubborn I am at times when it comes to doing things my way.  You probably don't have many cobwebs dangling from your ceilings, do you?  If not, you don't need to read another word.

I realized afresh that some sweet people in my life want a bit more of me than I want to give. They may not see the dust I neglect beneath my sofa, nor know about the selfishness I keep closeted inside my heart, but they receive it vicariously, in more subtle ways, as I opt for writing instead of talking.  I am so grateful the Lord pinches my spirit when I try to close the door on generosity and keep His love all to myself.  Let me explain.

"Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." Proverbs 11:25

Sometimes I just don't want to be a blessing to others.  Sometimes I simply want to revel in the glory of God, enjoy the pleasure I find from another's writing, and create new posts for the whole wide world to see (not that the WWW is looking).  Sometimes I don't interact as much as I should with my husband, because...well, he's watching NCIS, Nascar or political pundits, anyway.

However, I'm lying to myself.  When I do that I miss out on little ways I can be a blessing rather than have or share the blessings.

Last night after a long day, all I wanted to do was relax and play on my computer while my granddaughters played in the bedroom.  When Haylee came out and wanted to play the CD that reads her book as they turn pages, I must admit; I didn't want to turn loose of my laptop.  I did anyway, and she was tickled pink, and hubby and I spent time laughing at corney jokes he'd heard that day.

When I spend all my time writing, I cannot move among the living other than by way of internet monitors.  While I am extremely blessed by folks who comment or send emails, I enjoy the good old-fashioned physical connections occasionally.  When I give, I receive. 

As I look beyond myself to bless others, I find my heart's desires transform into helping another fulfill theirs.  Like my 13-year-old granddaughter who emailed that she wanted to make necklaces to sell and raise money for her friend's mom who has cancer.  It was a joy to sit and look up websites she could safely visit and discover ways to make her own beads and jewelry accessories.  Now, she's coming up this weekend so we can start creating.  She's so excited.  And her joy will transform into joy for her friend and her friend's mother. Yep, I'm feeling refreshed already.  selahV