Embracing Him

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

Like Linus, our sweet little Sugar Plum has a very special blanket. Hers is white with an array of pastel colored hearts and in order to sleep soundly, Sugar Plum must have her beloved blanket beside her in bed. No other blanket will suffice.

One recent morning, I changed and washed the girls’ bedding. That evening as I prepared to put Sugar Plum to bed, I realized I had not transferred the morning laundry over to the dryer. This meant Sugar Plum’s precious blanket was still wet and would not be ready for bed.

Though I knew my offer would not be accepted, I volunteered a similarly colored and similarly sized blanket. Sugar Plum would not accept it and started to cry. After she calmed down, I explained that her blanket was drying and that she could have it the next day. That explanation was not sufficient for her and Sugar Plum said she wanted the blanket that night and would wait for it to dry.

Sugar Plum’s day was a long one and I knew she was tired. But rather than retire peacefully with a different blanket, Sugar Plum fought sleep and insisted upon waiting for me to bring her security blanket. Each time I slipped into her room to check on her, I found her wide awake and whining impatiently. Unfortunately Sugar Plum was giving up much needed rest because she thought she needed to hold onto that blanket!

Isn’t that how we can be? So eager to hold onto the things we think will bring us security! Perhaps we have missed a blessing or two simply because we refused to let go of something we thought would bring us security, comfort, or stability.

When we cling to things other than God, we show that we do not trust Him to provide for our needs. Likewise this lack of trust in God can prevent us from experiencing the many things God has in store for us. How can we live the full lives God has intended us to live, if we don’t lean on Him? Simply put, we can’t.

Sooner or later we learn that our spouses, best friends, children, jobs, and material possessions cannot give us the security we seek. Unfortunately placing full dependence on anything else but God leaves us disappointed and unfulfilled. In addition, it doesn’t leave us free to embrace God, the only one who can meet ALL of our needs.

As the year comes to a close, I encourage you to join me in taking a careful look at what you’re grasping. Let’s make sure we’re seeking security in God. If our trust lies elsewhere, let’s redirect our focus and embrace Him!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for the friends, families, and materials goods you have given us. We thank you for the joy these things bring to our lives. Help us to remember that You are the one who has provided these and many other things for us. Help us not to put our trust in false securities. Forgive for the times we have depended on other people and things for our needs instead of relying on You. Remind us that only You can meet our needs completely and help us to lean on You completely. Help us to conquer our fear of letting go and letting God and give us the faith we need to rely on You. Amen.

Food For Thought:

1. What makes you feel secure?
2. Are you holding onto things that interfere with what God wants to do in your life?
3. Why is it sometimes hard to “let go and let God”?

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38)

Last winter, I took the girls to the library for some afternoon fun. While there, I met a friendly expectant mother and her preschool age daughter. As our children played with the puzzles and games in the children’s area, she and I chatted for a while, exchanging advice about potty training and naps. Soon, the topic of our conversation turned to pregnancy and we talked about the joy and excitement surrounding the birth of a second child. Though excited about her baby’s arrival, she expressed a large degree of nervousness about giving birth a second time.

Our conversation was just starting to get good, but our children did not feel the same. It lingered a tad too long for them and they began to get restless. This mother and I ended our conversation, but before parting ways I told her I would pray that her nervousness would end and that God’s peace would cover her as she progressed through her final month of pregnancy.

Nervousness during pregnancy is not uncommon. I imagine that Mary, an expectant mother of long ago, was also nervous at times. After all, she had been selected for a special job, one that many did not understand or approve. As she anticipated the birth of her son Jesus, I believe Mary was sometimes nervous about what was to come.

Many have wondered why God chose to bestow such a special honor upon Mary rather than another young woman. I believe the answer can be found in Mary’s own words. Consider Mary’s response to the angel who explained what was to come. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”

Through these words, Mary proved herself to be a receptive and obedient servant of God, one worthy of a special blessing. Mary did not run from her calling. She opened herself to God and allowed her own life plans to be overwritten by God’s divine plans. Mary did not resist the angel’s message. She was willing to be used by God and focused on the job He had given to her.

All of us can learn something important from Mary. It is only when we obey God that He clearly shows what He wants us to do. Our future and perhaps the futures of those we love may rest on the response we give to God when He calls us to do something. This Christmas, open your heart to God. Talk to Him. Listen to Him. Embrace Him. See what He has for you to do and get busy!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for this special time of year! Thank you for providing us with Jesus, our wonderful Savior. We thank you for Mary, the obedient young woman who allowed herself to be used by You. Help us to adopt an attitude of openness and obedience so that we may complete the tasks you want us to complete. Forgive us Lord, for not recognizing the potential we have in You. Work within us and help us to develop the Godly characteristics we need to do your work. Amen.

Food For Thought:

1. Do you think God has a special job for you to do? If so, what do you think the job is?
2. What characteristics do you possess that make you a candidate for one of God’s special jobs?
3. Are you open to the prospect of allowing God to use you in the way He sees fit? If not, what is preventing you from allowing God to use you His way?

Photo: Courtesy of gracevisuals (Flickr)

Christmas preparation is well underway here at the Thorpe household. This past weekend, we completed our shopping for the girls, selected our Christmas tree, pulled out the Christmas trimmings, and started to decorate. We also made a major grocery shopping trip in order to replenish the grocery stockpile I like to maintain and to ensure I have all that I need to prepare Christmas dinner.

Because the weekend was so packed and because today’s schedule is just as full, I had very little time to write. Consequently, this week’s Monday Motivation is a repeat of a post I wrote in the early part of the year. Since most of my readers weren’t along for the ride back then, I reprinted it today and added a prayer and a question for you to consider. This is one of my favorite posts and I hope you’ll enjoy reading (or rereading) it as well!

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“Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (Revelation 16:15)

Earlier this week, I was standing in the grocery checkout line behind a pregnant woman who was chatting on her cell phone. She was telling a friend how excited she was about her upcoming birthing classes. As she talked, my mind wandered back to our first pregnancy and our birthing classes.

For 6 weeks, JT and I joined other expectant couples and learned what to expect in the final weeks and days leading up to delivery. As our class neared its end, our instructor encouraged all mothers to prepare a labor and delivery bag, full of the things we would need to make the hospital stay more comfortable. The instructor warned us not to wait until the last minute to pack the bag, since labor could commence at any time. As soon as I returned home from that final class, my packing began. Like a squirrel hoarding nuts, I hastily dashed around the house filling my bag with calming lotions, personal toiletries, warm socks, comfortable clothes, nursing pads, soothing lip balm, hard candy, and the many other things a pregnant woman needs. I wasted no time packing because I did not want to be caught unprepared when labor began. Everything was in the bag!

That day, as I scurried about filling my hospital bag, I thought about what people might be doing the day Jesus returns. The Savior will find that some already have their spiritual bags packed and thus are ready to go with Him. Sadly, He will also find those who are woefully unprepared with empty spiritual bags and therefore will be left behind. Revelation 16:15 informs us that Christ will return quickly and advises us to be ready for His return.

If your bag is not ready, it’s not too late to start packing. Fill your spiritual bag with admission, repentance, confession, and belief. Admit that you are a sinner, ask God to forgive you of your sins, confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. Once your bag is packed, you can rest assured that you are prepared for your eternal stay with Jesus Christ. Remember, whether our bags are packed or not, Jesus will return. Is your bag ready?

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for giving us Jesus Christ, the greatest gift we could ever have! Thank you for gift of salvation He has offered to each and every one of us! Please forgive us of our sins and help us not to commit those offenses again. Help us to accept this wonderful gift of salvation You have offered and help us to always cherish and recognize the value of our salvation. As we enter the Christmas season and prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, help us to slow down, remember what this holiday is really about, and celebrate in a way that sincerely honors You. Amen.

Food For Thought:

Have you confessed your sins and accepted Christ into your heart? If not, what is stopping you from doing so?

Photo: Courtesy of sushikat (Flickr)