Tonight, after dinner and baths and evening "straightening up", while sitting on the couch, nursing Cadel to sleep, I realized, I am busy! Between homeschool (determined to have Naomi reading fluently by Fall), curriculum and homeschool-method research, birthday planning (Beckham is turning 3 on Saturday), housekeeping (wouldn't it be nice to be able to take a day off from this, but not have it accumulate only to have twice as much to do the following day), shopping, planning, fellowshipping, playing with my wonderful family, and oh yeah, breathing - life just seems a little hectic these days and tonight I realized it.
Tonight, when I sat down, after the kids were asleep, to do my evening devotions, I realized that even my time in God's word, is busy! Reading systematically through God's word is amazing, and having the whole counsel of God in my heart and at my disposal is priceless, but sometimes a psalm and proverb in the morning and 3 pre-arranged chapters every evening become like everything else, a duty! Tonight, I needed intimacy with my Sweet Savior.
I sat on the couch and hugged my bible like a little girl hugging her favorite teddy bear (and to continue with this analogy, my bible is the equivalent of the raggedy old teddy bear that is missing an eye and whose nose stitches are all but gone - ha!). I genuinely wanted to "snuggle" with my Lord, feel Him wrap me up in His arms and say, "Rest. Find peace and solace in Me." Those three chapters of Joshua I missed tonight will still be there tomorrow night, and God will speak to me in them just like He has spoken to me from Genesis and Revelation and every book in between, but tonight I turned to a favorite place, a place filled with underlines, notes and encouragement - Philippians!
Oh what Joy we have in Christ! What encouragement that He who began a good work in us will complete it! What encouragement to be reminded to do things in love, with likemindedness and with a spirit of humility, preferring others before ourselves. To press towards the goal, the prize, not that we have already attained it, but laying a hold of it, because Christ has laid a hold of us. Our citizenship is in heaven - Amen! And "finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8).
My Jesus met me right there on the couch and wrapped me up in His loving arms and encouraged me. He reminded me of what I already knew and comforted my weary mind. My heart is not weary - Praise the Lord. Serving Him through serving my family is my joy and my calling. I am so grateful to be where I am, and doing what I am doing, but in the hustle and bustle of "life", I forgot about where to put my mind - on the true, noble, just, pure and lovely things that surround my life!
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there
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