Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Making Soup

Yesterday was a play day.  My little buddy Bobby came over. Bobby is 2, with a quick smile that lights up his face, tons of energy, and an easy-going attitude.  When Bobby comes to my house, he makes soup.  Soup is evidently a very difficult thing to create.  It takes lots of pans to make soup.  In fact, it takes every pan I own!  

Do you remember when you were young?  Do you remember those days when you were caught up in the imaginary world you had created?  Do you remember the feeling of pure delight of just living in the moment and believing you were really doing what wasn't real?  

I have a vivid memory of my sisters and I taking turns riding the bike one sunny afternoon.  I'm not sure why we only had one bike that day, but we were playing and sharing.  One of us would ride the bike around the block (and it was a BIG BLOCK) and as each of us returned to the house, we would tell the others a story of what happened on our adventure bike ride.  I don't remember the stories of the day, but I do remember the fun we had creating and imagining and sharing.  

When my buddy Bobby isn't at my house, I'm not entertained making soup.  It's only with Bobby that making soup is so entrancing.  Bobby believes he is making soup.  He's invested, he's living the moment, and his soup is delicious!  

I think that's how God wants me to live. The Bible tells me that God wants to give all of us abundant life. The word abundant is not a pansy word.  It's a word that draws a huge painting, loaded with color and activity. It's a word that leads one toward excitement, anticipation, and bursting hope.   God longs for me to live each day with the wonder and joy of living, just like when Bobby is making soup.  I am reminded that it's not always about producing something amazing, it's about living an amazing, abundant experience called life.  

I'm not necessarily making soup today, but as I loaded my dishwasher, I remembered how much fun it had been. I remembered that Bobby was invested, and he believed what he was doing. I'm not spending today playing, creating, imagining or doing anything that would make someone else envious. I'm doing every-day mundane activities like the checkbook and laundry. I am also believing that my day is loaded with color, wonder, and bursting with hope. Today I am living an abundant life, the abundant God life, and the experience is delicious!


Friday, March 21, 2014

I want a cookie!

I just need to say it out loud.  I want a cookie.  I don't need a cookie.  I'm not hungry.  I've already had two cookies.  I still want another cookie, and probably another cookie, and probably another.  I am aware that this is not a healthy choice.  If I was longing after celery, I wouldn't hesitate to indulge. If I was craving broccoli or spinach, I would rush to the kitchen and not give it a second thought.  I KNOW what are the more appropriate choices for healthy eating.  I just don't want to choose those things.  I want a cookie: one of those cookies with the frosting on top and then fun sprinkles to make you think you are indulging in a personal party.  Sigh.

I am sipping water.  I am repeating in my head, "Ahhh, this water is so refreshing!  It's cool and it feels so great as it slips down my throat."  It helps.  .... some.

What is it with wanting things I know are not so good for me?  Why is it so hard to keep long term goals in view so that I make choices that support the "dream" instead of the immediate want?

I've been reading my Bible in 1 Corinthians.  In the first couple of chapters, Paul is challenging the people of Corinth to grow up in a spiritual way.  They aren't always acting as  God would want, instead they are making choices that reflect what Paul calls "the flesh."  One of the Bible versions I read described this as "being human at a disappointing level of behavior or characteristics."   This definition grabbed my heart.  It reminds me that God knows I am human.  He realizes the limitations that I have and He challenges me to live a life that is beyond those limitations. He knows that a life lived where I glorify Him by how I act and react is a more fulfilling and rewarding life.

The long term goal, the dream, is to be like Jesus.  In the immediate, there are times I want to act in ways that are not God glorifying.  I have my moments when I want to throw my little hissy fit and demand my way.  I want my cookie.  When I keep my eyes and my heart focused on who God is, then when I deny myself what I want, I remain satisfied with whatever He gives me, even if He gives me just water. My thirst is quenched, I am not sad or feeling guilty over the choice I made, and I know that I am successfully working toward the long term hope of being like Christ.

My water is tasting pretty good right now!


Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Take Another Step

Have you ever listened to a song, and it just resonates somehow with you? I've recently become enamored with a song by Steven Curtis Chapman from his latest project, Glorious Unfolding.  I am partially drawn to this song because it tells a story and I'm a "story girl."  The music itself is encouraging! If there were no words to this song, the music from the chorus alone would bring a smile to my face.   And then there's the repetition: "take another step and another step and another step." Overall, it's that phrase that for some reason resonates within my soul.  I'm not in the middle of a storm.  I haven't encountered some atrocious trial that  is pulling the rug out from beneath my feet.  I'm just living life.

And let me be honest: sometimes life is repetitive.  Get up, do a little this, a little that.  Get to work.  Eat some lunch.  Work some more.  Do a little grocery shopping, gotta get the laundry done, clean the dishes, feed the dog. Go to church.  Buy some fuel.  Find a little family time.  Make dinner, clean it up, go to bed.

Start over.

In the midst of all the every-day-ness of life, I need to be reminded to "take another step and another step and another step.  Trust God and take another step."

I have several friends who are encountering tough times in their lives.  This song has reminded me to pray for them with greater compassion and intensity.  So many times we do get frozen and "don't know which way to go." We are faced with circumstances that seem insurmountable and it's tough to remember that God hasn't left, He didn't take a different route, He didn't desert us. And we need to be encouraged to "take another step."

Regardless of the circumstance of your life, take a breather, listen to the song and then.....

Take another step.