Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise. Ephesians 5:15

Our cute little black Grand-dog brings much humor to our lives. One of the funniest things to watch him do is chasing flies. Yes, you read it right. He hates flies, and chases them gnashing his teeth trying to catch them. If he does catch them, he actually eats them. Gross! I know.

One day as I was watching him, I began to wonder if Satan doesn’t sit back and laugh at us some days watching us snap at the flies he sends buzzing around us. You know what I mean? Flies like: a comment on Facebook that we just can’t let go and keep checking to see if the OP (original poster) has responded to our comment, a relationship based on jealousy that constantly buzzes around our heads as we say to ourselves, “She just did that to 1-up me,” or even the flies at church of little slights or offenses or feeling “Uninvited” as a recent book title proclaimed.

Satan knows how to bug us. Pun intended. He knows how to get us distracted with silly, meaningless situations that grab our whole focus and leave us unobservant of the things The Father would have us notice. Things like: the pain that Facebook poster is dealing with that makes her post harsh, critical things, the friend’s need for unconditional love that God wants us to give to them while letting Him (not others) fill us, or the loneliness and emptiness of those around us wanting to feel accepted and significant just like we long to be.

Let us not go around acting like silly dogs, ladies. It’s not near as cute when we do it as when my little dog does it – not cute at all. Satan knows how to bait us. He wants to get us so distracted with useless flies, that we miss the important things worthy of our focus and attention and energy, like nurturing and discipling our families, caring for the lonely and broken, and steeping our minds in His Word.

I know I’m not the only one who has ”read my Bible” with dozens of those flies buzzing around my mind and gone away totally unaware of having heard from the Father. Sometimes I can’t even tell you later in the day what I read about because my mind was so distracted.

And I’d bet I’m not the only one who has gotten a case of the mulligrubs, feeling so sorry for myself that I don’t have the mental energy to reach out and take a meal to a hurting person, or call someone who is down, or even bother to speak kindly to the people in my household. I become so self-focused because of those flies that I am not living out even the basic commands of the Word of God. I waste my energy on a useless chasing after things that don’t matter.

It’s time we focus on God’s purpose for our day. Let’s give up the petty distractions of the enemy for a rich life of obedience to God that will yield joy in our souls and something much more worthy of our time and effort than those silly flies.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Open in a time of prayer, turning your heart to your Father.

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?

Lift your eyes to heaven.

My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

You’re Helper is your Creator. Tell Him the areas you need help.

He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.

He won’t bail on you, but will be there to help you in all your struggles.

Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.

He offers shade and rest when you are weary and battle-worn.

The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

He offers round the clock protection from all the forces of nature that come against you.

The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.

He offers protection from evil and guards us forever!

Praise His name and worship Him today!

I recently read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. It truly opened my heart to the great value of gratefulness and the disservice we do to ourselves and those around us when we move through the world operating with ungrateful hearts. Worry builds, self-focus controls our thoughts, and we lose sight of the wonderful things God does for us when we take things for granted.

We are reminded over and over in scripture to be thankful. Do we heed those instructions, or do we selfishly walk through life feeling like things are owed to us rather than being grateful for all we have?

They sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.” Ezra 3:11  

Do we thank God simply because He is good to us? Or do we take it for granted?

The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. Psalm 28:7

Do we thank Him when He helps us and strengthens us? Or do we take it for granted?

I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng. Psalm 35:18

Do we join together in worship and thank Him corporately? Or does that seem unimportant to us in this modern age?

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

Do we thank Him for making us the way we are, and who we are, and where we are and when we were born? Or do we ungratefully complain about parts of how He made us?

Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. Psalm 110:4

We are told the proper way to enter the King’s court; do we adhere to protocol? Would we if He were an earthly King? You bet. So let us honor Him even more so by entering into His presence with thankfulness on our hearts and tongues.

So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. John11:41

Do we thank Him for answered prayer, or do we chalk it up to “good luck” when something happens that we prayed about? 

And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people. Mark 8:6

Do we even bother to be grateful for our food and take a moment to thank Him before we eat? Or do we ungratefully rush on through with our meal without a thankful thought at all?

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

Do we thank Him and give Him credit for all our victories?

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

Do we at least thank God for His best gift of all – giving His son Jesus to die for our sins?

In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Everything? Really?! The hard? The sad? The mean things people have done to us? In everything God calls us to a spirit of gratefulness. Why? Because it is good for our hearts. To be grateful, you must acknowledge the Someone to whom you are grateful. Gratefulness keeps us humbled before God and focused on Him in all things. This thankful attitude is the solution to fear, selfishness, worry, and most every negative emotion we embrace, because an appropriate view of God from a thankful heart keeps us ever aware of His place of omnipotence as creator, provider, and ruler over us. It has been said that Gratefulness is to worry as antibiotics are to an infection. So today as you battle negative emotions and situations, bow a head and offer a prayer of thankfulness to find a proper perspective for life and healing for your heart.

When my four, now adult offspring were babies and young children, I struggled. Loving, kissing booboos, doing laundry, feeding, cuddling, entertaining, picking up the mess, resolving quarrels, teaching them – these constant needs, demands, and responsibilities left me depleted. Frankly, my husband got worn out with my complaining and weariness and lack of energy for him. I wanted to enjoy my family, but I never seemed to find a chance to recharge my self.

It came to a head one day as I was whining about how house was a wreck and the kids seemed constantly clingy and needy to the point that I had no time for myself and not enough time to get everything done in a day.

After a long day of work, while Randy was sitting listening to my normal litany of failure and disappointment with life, he offered some unsolicited advice – which we all know is never appreciated in the moment. He said, “Deb, I think if you’d get down in the floor and play with them for 30 minutes or so first thing in the morning, they’d go play on their own and leave you alone for a bit.” I don’t remember my response (I’m probably blocking it out because it wasn’t pretty), but at a minimum I’m sure I huffed off thinking he was insensitive and just didn’t understand.

As often happens, God worked on me with Randy’s words after the fact. As I mulled them over in my thoughts, his idea sounded more and more plausible. Our family always talked about filling up our “love tanks,” wasn’t this just another way to do that? We even had a little hand signal that meant “hug alert.” (In other words, I’m feeling down and need a hug!) I knew my main job as mom was to love and nurture my kids and raise them to love God and others. But why did it seem like all the duties of the home trumped my willingness to just sit and play and love on them and fill up their little love tanks?

A couple of mornings later I tried my husband’s suggestion. After breakfast I parked myself in the floor with my 4 kids with Barney and Baby Bop blaring in the background.

I vividly remember that morning – we played with the 4-year-old’s Barney’s Tree House, moving the characters around and singing their songs. She was happy. The 10-year-old sat building amazing things with his legos and explaining all the intricacies of them to me. He felt I was interested in him. The baby lay gurgling on his blanket beside us slinging and chewing on toys and trying to “talk” to us, while the 7-year-old played mama to him and ended up bringing nearly every baby toy we owned to him. Those 2 were content. It was a joyous morning.

It was actually less than an hour before the eldest took to his room to complete his lego fantasy and the two girls headed to play with the Barbie house, Barney being long forgotten. I fed the baby and put him down for a nap. As I sat back down I realized the house was quietly running with just the babble of happy children in the background. I put on blinders to the housework that needed to be done and spent almost the baby’s entire nap contently reading. Lesson learned. My husband did know something about mothering!

Not every morning afterwards went perfectly smoothly like that one, but a new way of thinking and behaving was born out of that experience. What were my take-aways?

1. Listen to the wisdom of my husband.
2. Children are a treasure from the Lord – even when it doesn’t feel like it.
3. Savor the moments / engage with my children. That moment – that day – will never be available to me for a redo.
4. There is grace and a fresh start and hope for every thing I felt I have failed on.
5. Don’t feel any mama-guilt over taking some healthy downtime.
6. Spend time with the Lord.
7. And last but not least – I am not always right, contrary to what I like to believe. I still have lots to learn.

Sweet mommies out there, give yourself grace. Kids learn even from, or maybe especially from, our mistakes. Take time to sit and love on and play with the little ones even when the house is a wreck. Take time for yourself – Bible reading, listening to good music, enjoying a workout, sitting on the back porch with lemonade – when your tank is full and your spirit and body are nourished you are more energized to pour into your kids and to nourish your family. Treasure your children and husband. And for heaven’s sake listen to that man God gave you, he may have the winning idea after all!

Do you remember what you were doing that morning 19 years ago tomorrow?

If you were beyond childhood you probably do. The terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon marked that particular morning indelibly in our minds.

But oh how easily we forget.

Today, the unity and crying out to God have faded away and been replaced by taking sides and a self-focus and willingness in society to ignore, deny, and despise our Holy God. The palpable feelings of “we’re all in this together” and the seeing the person beside you as someone you can and should help have gone. We are more self-centered these days, and evil seems to be prevailing.

So what are we to do? Throw our hands up in despair? Rant about it on Facebook? Write a blog? (Wink!) Join in the fray? Look out for number one and have a get-them-before-they-get-you attitude? These are human tendencies of ways to respond. But as Christians we are commanded to live up to a higher standard.

We are to have the mind of Christ.

Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8

We are to keep always in our minds that we live in a sin-ridden world until Christ returns to redeem all of creation.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4 NASB

We are to love God and love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27

We are to act with justice, kindness, and humility.

O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

We are to remember. Remember the Sabbath. Remember God’s covenantswith us. Remember the past and learn the lessons it offers. Remember all God has done for us. Remember that we are the created and He is the Creator.

I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work and muse on Your deeds. Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders, You have made known Your strength among the peoples. You have by Your power redeemed Your people. Psalm 77:11-15

An Allegory

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once upon a time there was a woman named Misery who lived in the land of Worry. Her name was appropriately fitting, for she was a woman full of woes and worries.

One evening, she had a visitor come knocking at her door. It was her friend Merry from the land of Rejoicing. Merry bubbled and encouraged, much to the dismay of Misery. This overly-cheerful friend never seemed to join in with Misery’s complaining and fretting and fearful predictions of doom and gloom. While Misery loved a bit of company, part of her wished her friend would reciprocate her worries when she came over to visit, yet another part of her found a modicum of peace in the rejoicing of her friend.

The next morning Misery woke up wanting some peace. So she set her heart to apply Merry’s joy-filled attitude. She headed off to the market that day determined to find something in her pitiful life to rejoice over. 

On her way down the street she passed her neighbor, Gentleness. Gentleness was always so kind and Merry noticed that in return, people were kind to Gentleness as well. Bill collectors weren’t as aggressive and the neighbor who was mad about the dog, calmed down quickly. Misery decided that she herself would benefit from dishing out some gentle behaviors to others. So she began to treat her family and people she met more gently, which in turn made her more gentle on herself.

As days went by with Misery trying to put into practice the habits of rejoicing and gentleness, she found herself not quite so miserable, with less worries clouding up her mind.

A couple of weeks later she heard the church bells ringing in town. Those sounds made her rejoice a bit more. She thought to herself, “Maybe more peace and joy can be found in my religion. I have been slack about that and I have sort of given up on The God Who Sees Me.” So she drug out her dusty Holy Book to read the words of her Creator.  As the warm, afternoon sun was setting, she read away the last hour of light and felt comforted. It seemed as if the God Who Hears was sitting right beside her talking to her, and she knew that he discerned the prayers of her heart. He felt near, and real.

She loved that feeling of nearness to the Holy One so much that she began a habit of spending time reading the Holy Book in the afternoon setting sun each day. As she read she found herself wanting to talk with Him. So she did! This conversation she knew was called prayer, but it seemed less like a religious activity and more like opening up her heart talking to a friend. And her heart filled with more contentment. It seemed that as she was filling up with positive thoughts of Her Beloved, those nagging thoughts she had been having didn’t have room to fit into her mind so much. 

Her heart seemed lighter. She had more freedom of mind to think about important things and to be grateful! Misery found that the darkness that had surrounded her turned into glimpses of light when she expressed her gratefulness to Her Heavenly Father. She decided to start writing down a few things she was grateful for each and every day.

But one day, a horrible thing happened! In the aftermath Misery was thrown back into her old darkness! There was nothing good she could see to write down – nothing to be grateful over. There was no rejoicing. She was afraid. That fear boiled up in her as anger and she spewed hateful, fearful, accusing, unkind words at those she loved the most. And when she did that she even hated herself and could not manage to show gentleness to anyone, even herself. The afternoon sun did not lure her to her normal warm spot under the shade tree that day. She did not even miss reading the Holy Book and hearing from her Father. She had no inclination to hear from Him or to speak her prayers to Him. Her heart felt cold and alone. All her thoughts were consumed with fear, self-pity, anxiety, and worry over how this horrible thing could ever be made right. It seemed impossible to her!

Falling back into her past habits of miserable thoughts, her days and weeks began to feel desperate again. One day through the gloom she heard the church bells ringing again and had the thought “Thank you Father for giving me at least that one bit of joy in this horrible day.” As she thought that, it occurred to her that she was grateful for one small thing again! She was surprised that her bitterness waned a bit with these thoughts of rejoicing and gratefulness. 

So she said to herself, maybe I can choose to think one good thought each day. Maybe that will give me a glimmer of hope. So that afternoon at her usual time when she used to read the Holy Book and talk to the Father, she had a good thought. She thought briefly about her previous happy times in the sun with Her Beloved. With that thought she decided to go out to Her place in the waning sunlight and make herself read His Holy Book again. 

As she sat down and opened the Book, her eyes fell upon these words: 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Phil 4:8-9)

Misery was surprised! Her Beloved was talking to her about Her thoughts! Could her thoughts and behaviors bring peace to her despair? The Holy Book said it could. And it must! What had brought her to this place? A thought of rejoicing over the bells! A thought of the warm happy times in the sun. Then a thought to come talk with her Beloved Creator! Yes! Thoughts could make a difference! 

Misery went into her home and wrote these words upon a parchment and hung it on her wall where she could see it each day. 

True. Noble. Right. Pure. Lovely. Admirable. Excellent. Praiseworthy. 

These were the only thoughts she would allow herself to think. Yes! She would choose to drive out those thoughts of death and despair, the lies and fears, and even the hateful or jealous attitudes toward her neighbors. Misery made a Pledge to herself and prayed a brief prayer asking her Father to give her strength to live out this commitment. 

At just that moment, her neighbor Gentleness knocked on her door.

She answered the door with joy and invited her in. “Oh Gentleness, I have been in such a state of worry, but I heard the church bells ring and was grateful for at least that. I met with My Beloved and His Holy Book reminded me how to think aright! I want to do that. But I fear I will fail.”

Gentleness replied, “Friend, I understand. My Middle name is Anxious!”

Misery was shocked! Could her gentle friend have even a tiny anxious bone in her body? So she asked, “You? But how? You always exude the gentle joy of Our Heavenly Father.”

Gentleness responded, “O, but the answer to that is a long story. I must tell it over a course of days not minutes, it is the story of my life walking with My Beloved.”

“Would you come every week and tell me more of your story?” Misery asked. “I would love to know it and learn from you and find out how I too can live at Peace.”

“Of course,” said Gentleness. “You can be my little learner, my disciple, and I will guide you with all I know so that you too can choose Peace and the Holy Way. Then you can change your name from Misery.”

“I would like that said Misery. “My middle name is Blessing, and I have always wanted to be called by that name, but it never quite fit my woeful life.”

From that time forward the worrisome Miss Misery became known as Blessing Upon Blessing because she walked with her Beloved Creator and learned from her friend how to live life fully, fighting off the worry in her daily battles that had previously controlled her life.

The End