So, the days have been a bit hard lately. Not just because of late stage pregnancy but struggling with the kids and illness and relationships and well, just life.
For awhile now I have been reading this blog: khphotography. Every once in awhile she posts part of her Jesus Calling Devotional that really speaks to her. Actually, it is because of the various posts that she has done that I bought the children's Jesus Calling for Abigail.
Anyway, the Farmer was just praying this morning that I'd find joy and hope today and then I sat down to eat my breakfast an peruse my blog readings when I noticed her post. For your convenience I'll copy just the Jesus Calling part (bold italics are the parts that hit me):
jesus calling: august 13
“learn to enjoy life more. relax, remembering that I am God WITH you. I crafted you with enormous capacity to know Me and enjoy My presence. when My people wear sour faces and walk through their lives with resigned rigidity, I am displeased. when you walk through a day with CHILDLIKE DELIGHT, savoring every blessing, you proclaim your trust in Me, your ever-present Shepherd. the more you focus on My presence with you, the more fully you can enjoy life. glorify Me through your pleasure in Me. thus you proclaim My presence to the watching world.” matthew 1:23, john 10:10-11
I was curious, so I asked Abi to get her Jesus Calling out. This is what spoke to me on the same day in the Children's version:
"Life is My gift to you - enjoy it! I came to this earth so that you could live your life to the fullest, not just endure it. ... Don't walk around with your head down, trying to "just get through" your day so that you can get up tomorrow and do it all over again. That is what the evil one wants - a dull, tiring life with no joy. I want every day to be a delight as you live in My Presence and discover My blessings. ... when the rain comes, choose to look for the rainbows. Choose to enjoy life..."
Wow...'not just endure it'. How many days have I just tried to endure my life? Too many to count. This is not the way I want to live, but it is how it often is. 'A tiring life with no joy' - how easy is it to fall into that one with 5 kids 8 and under - just trying to pick up after them is tiring!
So...what is the solution? I believe it falls in the adult version: 'the more you focus on My Presence with you'.
God is HERE...with me! He isn't a million miles away, preoccupied, too busy, disinterested, or even condemning. He is here with me! And I need to remember that. I am not alone, abandoned, or incapable...but I do need to turn to the only One who has never left me, never failed me, never deserted me. How often I forget that! Maybe it's because He is not seen everyday...or more accurately because I don't look for Him everyday!
Thank You Lord for showing up today and opening my eyes to see you!~
Copyright © 2012 All Rights Reserved MMFarmlife - Melanie Schlatter
