Remember the Spirit

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.      John 16:13a

Most of the time, I feel like I’m what could be considered a “hot mess.”  For the life of me, I cannot seem to get my act together – about anything. This morning was no exception…

Now, I should know better than to add much to my to-do list for the mornings.  But clearly I don’t know better. 

When I discovered my job site for today, I realized that I was going to be working on the far end of town.  That’s not unusual.  But when I plotted the location of the school on the map, I realized that it was practically right next door to the facility where we board our dog.  We were planning to board her for the weekend, as we have a day trip planned that involves leaving early in the morning and coming back late tomorrow evening. 

Normally, we would plan to drive across town after work to take Bailey – it’s a good hour out of the day to drive there and back.  But I was going to be right there this morning.  So my plan was to leave early for work so I could drop Bailey at the kennel first thing.  It would be tight, but it was doable as the kennel opens at 7 and I didn’t need to be at work until 7:30. 

Thanks to plumbing problems, our bathroom was unusable this morning, so I had not calculated into my schedule that I needed time for a bathroom stop.  I also had not factored in that leaving Bailey unattended in the car was not going to be a good idea.  All of this hit me as I was getting ready to straighten my hair this morning…

So a quick call to the hubby at work to see if he would be able to Bailey-sit briefly for me to run into the airport to use the restroom (TMI, I know), and I took off out the door.  I was very pleased with myself that I managed to make it out with my purse, water bottle, a snack, Bailey and her supplies, and I was on my way.

A quick stop, and I was down the road, feeling very accomplished.  Flying down the interstate at mach speed, about halfway to my destination I remembered that I never fixed my hair.  No big deal. I had a comb in my bag.  But then I remembered that I was going to straighten my hair this morning, and I had a vague recollection that I had plugged in the flat iron but never unplugged it.  Or maybe I never plugged it in…  But maybe I did…  What if I really did plug it in?! 

There was no time to go back at that point.  I’d be late for work.  I’d have to just leave Bailey home and take her in the afternoon. 

But I’ll bet that I didn’t actually plug the straightener in anyway...  Surely I didn’t because I realized I didn’t have time.  But I might have…

Well, I debated with myself all the way to the kennel, and then on into the school parking lot, where I actually arrived about ten minutes early even after missing the driveway the first time and having to pull a u-turn to try again.  I let my husband know that I might have left the flat iron on because, who wants to worry alone?!  And I just went about my day.

The key fact that I have not yet mentioned it that my straightener has an auto shut-off.  As a matter of fact, all of my heat-producing electronics have auto shut-off features.  I won’t buy an iron or coffee maker or hair tool that does not have this feature because I know myself too well.  By the time I realized that I might have left the flat iron on, I knew that it would turn itself off before I could possibly get home to turn it off.  So I let it go. 

Sort of. 

I still wondered.  I still worried.  But when I finished work, I checked my phone, and there was no message telling me that I’d burned the house down, so I figured I was in the clear.

Well, it turns out, I did plug the straighter in.  And I did leave it plugged in when I left the house for the day.  And the auto shut-off did what it was supposed to do.  And I am thankful.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a safety feature for all of life?  I’d like an auto shut-off for my mouth that keeps me from saying things that are hurtful or even just dumb.  I’d like a kill-switch on decision-making that would keep me from making poor choices.  I need a feature on my debit card that would stop me from buying things I don’t need.

The good news for us is that, as Christ-followers, we have been given an incredible “safety feature” for life that can help us in all kinds of ways – the Holy Spirit.

 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.  John 16:13a

When we understand the amazing gift that is ours in having the Holy Spirit, life can feel so much lighter.  We spend a lot of time burdening ourselves with worries we weren’t meant to carry.  We overcomplicate the simple, and focus on the miniscule.  The big picture is bright! 

If I could just remember that my Lord is ever-present with me through His Holy Spirit, freedom and rest could be the by-products.  Like knowing that my home is safe because my appliances have safety features built in, so my life is secure because the Holy Spirit lives in me.

Rest and peace to you today.  Remember the Spirit.

…Just a thought…

Good Words

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.     Proverbs 12:25 ESV

As the recipient of a good word this past Monday morning, I can attest to the truth of this proverb!  It’s truly amazing how much difference a simple word of encouragement can make.

I’m two and a half weeks into a new job, and my Monday call was from my new boss.  The job that I already loved has become the job I look forward to waking up early to go to!

This sounds a little crazy, I know.  Those of you who know me know that I am NOT a morning person.  Waking up at any time, for me, has always been a struggle; waking up early takes the struggle to a whole new level!  But for the past couple of weeks, I’ve found that getting out of bed seems to be getting easier and easier (which does not mean it is EASY yet, but it seems plausible that this could become a thing…). 

I find myself feeling more content than I have felt in ages.  I love my job!  Being able to make that statement just feels really good.  The past eight months have been particularly trying professionally, to put it nicely.  When asked to explain why that has been the case, I have found it difficult to put it into concise terms.  But I think Proverbs 12:25 gives some good perspective on the matter:

An encouraging word cheers a person up. Proverbs 12:25b NLT

The opposite is also true.  A discouraging word can leave a person feeling sad, weary, and just generally unhappy.  Coming out of an environment where discouraging words were plentiful and into a setting where gratitude and encouragement flow freely has been fairly life-changing, and I am feeling incredibly blessed.

All that is simply to say this: I want to speak/write/text/post the kind of words that can help others feel glad, cheered up, encouraged, and valued.  In a world where judgment and criticism flow freely, I want to be a person who spreads a little more cheer.

Today’s thought is a short and simple one - good words are encouraging.  Let's share those good words liberally.  Who can you encourage today? 

…Just a thought…

Reluctance and Missed Opportunities

But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”     Exodus 4:13 ESV

So, I'm torn...

On the one hand, I can so empathize with Moses here.  God is trying to give him an amazing and important assignment.  Moses feels inadequate for the job.  I totally get it.  I definitely know what that feels like.  Sure, it's a great opportunity, but it just feels too big, too complicated, too critical, and Moses just feels unqualified.

On the other hand, I have to wonder how different things might have been had Moses accepted the assignment God was offering...

Immediately, we see that God is not pleased with Moses' response to His offer.  Moses has already given the Lord all of his excuses.  He's spelled out for God all of the reasons why he doesn't think he's the right man for the job.  But God has just finished reassuring Moses that He will be with him.  God is not asking Moses to carry out the assignment on his own.  He is going with Moses.

But after all of the Lord's reassurances, Moses is not convinced, begging God to send someone else.  

That was the wrong answer:

Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses... (v.14)

The Lord was offering to use Moses in a mighty way.  God was prepared to develop in Moses everything he would need to do the task at hand.  But Moses was reluctant to obey, and so God got Aaron involved.  Sure, Aaron had good public-speaking skills, but it was Moses that God had called.

Now, we know that God did use Moses mightily, in spite of his reluctance.  But I find myself wondering how differently the journey through the wilderness might have gone had Aaron not had to get involved.  If Moses had just given the Lord a whole-hearted "yes," would there have even been a golden calf?  

Moses' reluctance to fully trust in God would continue to impact the rest of his life, ultimately keeping him from entering the Promised Land.

And so, as I have been pondering the manner in which Aaron became a crucial part of the Exodus stary, I find myself wondering what my own reluctance may have cost me over the course of my life.  I have often counted myself inadequate, turning down and/or avoiding opportunities that I deemed challenging or difficult.  I have, at times, suggested to the Lord that someone else might be more qualified or better suited for a given task or assignment.

I am truly blessed beyond measure!  Is it possible that I might have been even more blessed had I simply trusted my God?  While that's hard to imagine fully, I do have some thoughts...

I waste a lot of time and energy worrying...

I overthink EVERYTHING...

I have a knack for second-guessing most decisions...

I suspect that perpetual fatigue, indecision, and lack of focus are just portions of the price my own reluctance has cost me.

I used to teach kids a simple, three-step formula for developing the skill of following instructions: "Look at the person.  Say OK.  Do it."  

Perhaps it's time I start applying that simple formula in my own life:

1. Look to the Lord (in Scripture and prayer, remembering to listen).  

2. Say OK (not "maybe," not "let me pray about it a while longer," and definitely not "how about You get somebody else?").  

3. Do it (don't plan it to death, don't second-guess it, don't overthink it, and definitely don't worry about it).

I think we can get really caught up in worrying about outcomes, to the point that we become ineffective at actually getting things done.  (Or is that just me?)    So I'm going to try to stop concerning myself with the outcomes.  That's God's part.  Obedience is my part.  I don't want my reluctance to result in any more missed opportunities!

I don't know if that makes any sense to anyone else, but it's where my head is anyway.  After all, it's...

...Just a thought...