~Task-y~

Sipping tea here on this brisk, gray morning...During my Inspirational time this morning...I was telling Father that I had so many things running through my mind that I needed to do...I told Him I know that is part of who He created me to be...a lady with multiple things coursing through her mind at all times...and these things were a variety of tasks...tasks that actually sound fun to begin and accomplish...but tasks that are in no order and being in no order...nothing...not one of them...gets completed or sometimes not even started.

I told Father, "You know that who you created me to be is also a list maker. It just feels good to make a list". I also told Him, that I may write things down and look the list over and then feel overwhelmed and do nothing. THAT is part of who He created me to be too. I accept that. I like the lady He created me to be. 

As I sat writing in my journal about needing to do these tasks, I told Him..."I know, I know, I  just need to begin somewhere." He agreed. Of course He would. I never consider it a task to have time with my Father. Those are moments I look forward to. 

Even as I write, the "list" of tasks run through my mind. It isn't even a "time thing" with me. It is just a thing. I don't consider myself a procrastinator, I am simply an "oh this is a good idea to do" lady who then finds other things to do. I don't know if you can relate to this or not, but I have all of these "neat" things to do in my mind, it's just the reality of needing to begin and complete one at a time.

Are there things that God is calling you to do? I know that the more I make the time to be with Him, the more I hear from Him. At times I sit quietly "talking" with Him mentally. I love it when He fills my mind. The task thinking stops (grins) and I focus on Him. Do you take time to focus?...to focus on what He desires of you? 

No task should ever take His place. He should be the Ultimate "Task". When we study His Word, He reveals things to us. He reveals His desires for us. When we communicate with Him, He lets us know the desires of His heart for us and they become the desires of our heart.

I want to encourage you to make the time in your day to be with Father. Listen! Learn! Communicate! The "tasks" he desires of you, will not be beyond your capability. How do I know this? I know this because Father gives us all that we need to accomplish all that He desires of us. He may stretch us...and He usually does....but He will be there to assist and give the strength, courage, knowledge...all that we need. Believe that He will ask of you things that you never dreamed you would do. He wants your obedience! He wants you to grow in Him! He wants you to show His character here in human form!

When we take on the task that Father desires for us to do, we become closer to Him! Sometimes the task may not be a very "popular" thing to do. Do it anyway! Obey! Each time you obey Him, you will feel a renewal within your soul and you will feel (and be) closer to Him. 

If you are like me, you have multiple tasks floating around inside your head to take on. When you listen to God, you will know what He desires for you to take on. It may not be anything that is going through your mind at the time. It may be something new! Something Challenging! Something that will "show off" your God-given gifts! 

As it says in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart". The desires of your heart will be in tune with His heart as you get to know Him more intimately on a day to day personal basis. Your heart will become one with His. THAT is how and why He will give you desires of your heart. THAT is how and why you will be able to do all that he asks of you to do.

Take it a step at a time...day by day...Jesus is always there to assist you in what He wants you to accomplish. You will be amazed at the joy and peace you will have when you fulfill what He asks of you as you go about your daily life. 

I do know that His main "task" for us all is as He says in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

This I know, Jesus' desire is for us to put into practice Matthew 28:19-20. In order for us to do so, He will guide you as to how He wants you to be doing this for Him. You may face rejection. You will be strengthened. He will give you all that you need to be  as His "hands and feet". Take time to learn from Him. Obey Him. DO what He desires of you! Your desires will collide and be the desires of both your hearts. Each time you do something He wants of you, it will make it easier for the next time. You will have trusted Him to help you with one "task" of His...and then you will be ready for the next knowing how He was there with you to do His will.

Listen! Obey! Do!

~Sing Your Heart & Soul~

Sipping tea here...listening to songs of praise to Father and His Son...

Sometimes a song is what we need...Sometimes we need to sing a praise or prayer song to our Lord...Sometimes we need to get caught up with Him in a song...

This song, "Yours Will Be", is one of my favorites and I want to share it with you...there is a sort of "silly" part of singing la-la's but I get caught up in the words...I close my eyes...raise my hands...envision all of it...I sing my heart and soul out...

The words touch  my heart and soul...I soak in the words...The only name that matters to me!...and The friendship and affection I need...He truly is the only true friendship that matters! 

Yours will be the only name that matters to me
The only one whose favor I seek
The only name that matters to me

Yours will be
The friendship and affection I need
To feel my Father smiling on me
The only name that matters to me

I Hope that you will listen and soak in the words to this song at least twice (especially if it is new to you). I hope that you will sing out with your heart and soul and truly be "with" Jesus as you sing. 

When I wake up in the land of glory, with the saints I will tell my story, There will be one name that I proclaim! Imagine it! David, Moses, Joseph, Esther, Rahab, Paul, Watchman Nee, Brother Andrew, so many who truly had a relationship with Father...envision friends and relatives you plan to see when you wake up in the land of glory! How amazing!

~The Dream~

Sipping my Irish Breakfast tea...I had a dream last night that I didn't want to leave...I was with my dad...

Some background information on me and my dad...we would take long road trips together while listening to music or a sermon and talk only when something hit us just right about the song or sermon or some topic hit our mind...we sometimes would discuss the sermon as it was being spoken and/or sometimes after...we would watch sporting events together in our family room while we each had our own large bowl of popcorn...we would "hang out" at the church where he was the pastor, he in his office, me either in the secretary's office as she was gone or "performing" on the stage in the sanctuary where I had songs set up and would sing along pretending I was in concert (dad was near so we were together)...when Dad and I were together...we rarely spoke...but we were together and that presence thing was what mattered most to me....As dad was on his last days in his hospital bed we had many quiet moments; some with conversation. During one particular conversation I looked at Dad and said, "you know, Dad, we never really talked a lot." He turned and looked at me and said, "no, only about what was important." THAT was our relationship! We had a togetherness but didn't need a lot of words...just about the meaningful things. 

Dad and I approached this little greenish house that was surrounded by cedars and beautiful pine trees. The yard was that grassy-sandy yard. The front door was a metal screen door with window panels and there was a heavier inner wood door. We stepped inside. I could smell a sort of woodsy smell from our surroundings. 

Dad and I walked through the rooms. None of them really stand out. We didn't talk. We walked and observed. Every room was a hue of green. I felt him beside me so I knew he was there. We came to the last room to view. It was the living room. There were built in book shelves. There was no furniture in the room. There were no books on the book shelves. Everything in the house was tidy and clean. The empty book shelves bothered me as I like to read and checking out people's books sort of tells something about the person living in the house. We stood side by side and I said to my dad, not turning his way but continuing to stare at the emptiness in the house and on the book shelves, "everything is empty. There is nothing here." He replied, "they were ready to go!" His words stood still inside my head. "They were ready to go!" We stood looking at the emptiness, neither of us saying a word. I could smell the closed up woodsy smell of the house and feel the coolness of the atmosphere. Dad spoke meaningfully yet simply as he did another time to me when he was on his hospital bed. He looked up at the ceiling and said, "people need to learn to think about nothing." I asked, "how do you do that?" He turned to me and said, "you just do!" So, whoever lived in this now empty house was "ready to go!" So simple! Few words needed. Dad and I stood beside each other until I awakened.

So simple! That house was empty, clean, fragrant, with a pleasant atmosphere. Whoever lived there was ready to go! They had given all! 

How do you see that house? What do you make of it being empty? What does my dad's statement, "they were ready to go" mean to you? 

I don't know where the belongings of this house were. It doesn't matter. The owner had cleared everything out and was ready to go! 

The house was empty. Empty of all but what needed to be there. The foundation was there. The various rooms were there. The aroma, that woodsy smell, was there. Does your mind, heart, and soul have space for Jesus? Does your mind have the space for learning scriptures? Does your heart have the space for more compassion? Does your soul have space for the Holy Spirit? Do you need to clear out your "house" to be ready to go? 

That house had a comfy~cozy feeling...a feeling of familiarity. The one who was ready to go did leave something behind. What was left behind was the knowing! Knowing that we need to de-clutter ourselves and create the vacancy to be filled with learning more of what Father wants. The bookshelves were empty. The reading (learning) had been done. There was nothing to dust. There was no furniture. What had been needed...gone! 

"They were ready to go!" 

~It's Sneaky~

Sipping my tea on a gloomy, gray, misty day...Lately my mind has been on both sides...and somewhere in the middle. People on what we call the left and right side...and then there are those caught in the middle. All three positions believe they are correct in what they have to share.

People voice verbally...People write their views in magazines, newspapers, social media...People are full of opinions...all of us are varied; even those "on the same  side". This makes for a very negative and critical assembly of people. Our thinking begins to focus on two things...one; that WE are the one who is correct (pride), two; the others are just annoyingly wrong (critical).

All of this world view "stuff" begins to skew our minds. It becomes natural to view people critically and think nothing of it. Perhaps some were of a more critical nature anyhow. Some may have slipped into being critical so subtly and slowly that they didn't even notice.

People begin to annoy you. People who are maybe more peripheral in your life. Someone will say something that you deem questionable and you cringe inside. Or you will be scanning through your social media and there will be a post that your eyeballs happen to read and you will wince. "Why does he/she post that meme or make that rant?" You will ask yourself. This is where that critical spirit enters along with pride. 

Pride; you think you are above the individual and that critical spirit has "no clue" how they could say such a thing and not realize the sphere of influence they may have over their group of friends who read them. That enemy is a sneak isn't he? He creeps into your mind with little whispers..."you are so much better. You don't post things that make people wince or cringe like that." "Yes! You declare, I am better." You continue reading to see what comments are made or how many "likes" are given. "Don't those people get it? This is not something that should be stated." "That's right," chimes in the enemy. "you would never post such a thing or say that." You're feeling pretty proud of yourself and you are wishing that others would be so "righteous". 

You are with a group of people. Someone begins to share a story they think is funny. Your ears begin to burn as you listen. "How can they think that is funny? It's pretty 'iffy' to share with these people." "Yes, you would never share such a thing," whispers the enemy. "No, I wouldn't," you respond. Each time the enemy chimes in, when people speak or write/post you thought it was our Father. The enemy can be tricky. He can come at you in any way you will accept. 

You "hear" a still small voice as you are having your prayer time with Father. "Do you really think I condone your thoughts and attitude toward that person?" "But Lord, look at what they do and what they say? It's really not appropriate," you defend. "Who are you say that?" Father responds. You sit in silence for a while. Your thoughts whirling. What some say or do is just so....so questionable! Father sits with you waiting quietly...allowing you to think. Prayer! "Okay, Father, I hear you! You want me to pray for them." You realize that you have had a critical spirit mixed with some pride. 

You have a revelation! Whenever you hear or see something questionable, you will pray for the person stating it. Or if the person merely comes to mind, they are there for a reason. You will pray! It is so very true that prayer changes things. We have all been told that when you pray for someone to change...you change...your attitude changes! 

Pray away a critical spirit. That spirit can hide and be sneaky. Pray away pride. Pride can also be sneaky. 

I encourage you to "pick apart" this passage from Ephesians 3 and pray it for that person(s) you have issues with. Or of course pray as God leads...this is an example: 

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you (the person) to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your (the person) inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your(the person's) hearts through faith—that you(the person), being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you (the person) may be filled with all the fullness of God.

I leave you with this encouragement...from Ephesians 3:
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.