My Butt Alarm

 

 

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

 

I really do believe everything that is written in God's Word, but at the same time I also realize that much of it is difficult to do or accomplish.  While we strive to follow God's instruction, the devil, our enemy, works just as hard to confuse us and place doubt in our minds toward the Word.

 

Most caregivers and people in general for that matter love this scripture that Jesus spoke for all of us.  He understands our burdens and he knows that we are weary.  That alone comforts me but then comes the really seemingly unrealistic part.  Jesus says, "I will give you rest."  I am certain that when He spoke those works He did not realize how much is on my plate and running over the sides.  How in the world does Jesus think I can rest?  

 

I have a running joke about having a butt alarm.  Yes, you heard me right. You see, each time I try and sit down someone calls my name!  There has to be a silent alarm somewhere that alerts those in my family that mom has indeed placed her butt in a chair and thinks she is going to rest for a few moments.  I hear, "Mommy!" or "Jessica!" from another room usually seconds after I have settled into my favorite chair to rest.  I really don't know how it got there but I assure you it is there and working great. I talk to caregivers daily that experience this very same phenomena. 

 

What I have realized is that the rest Jesus offers to me if I chose to accept it is a supernatural rest.  It is rest that comes when physically I should be exhausted or unable to function but I am sharp and able to accomplish the tasks placed before me.  His rest is also spiritual.  It gives me peace and comfort while the circumstances around me should have me in a mess.  His rest also gives me protection from the evil one and his vicious attacks throughout my day. That alone is something I am so thankful for and could not do without.

 

My prayer is that you will call upon Jesus today and ask for this rest that comes only from Him.  It's the only thing that will sustain you and refresh you in the journey you are on.

Is It Too Late?

 "But you men of Judah, keep up the good work and don’t get discouraged, for you will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7

Just this past week I began to wonder why I was doing what I was doing when I had such grand dreams I longed to accomplish just waiting for me.  I began to long for more but at the same time I began to look at where I presently was in a negative light.  I started to see all I had not yet accomplished instead of all that I had done with the Lord or what He was doing presently.  That's what the enemy does. His goal is to take our eyes off of Jesus and His blessings so that our focus can become misdirected.  

I began to think about my age, which is 40, and wondered if I still had enough time to do all the things I had planned.  My sweet husband reminded me that I wasn't "that old" and that I had plenty of time to do all the things I had dreamt of.  I felt a little better but still couldn't shake the worry and doubt.  

Then this afternoon I told my daughter I would read with her while she read. She had gotten me a book entitled Walt before Mickey by Timothy S. Susanin for she knows of my love for all things Disney, especially Walt himself.  As I read the biography, I saw when he first arrived in Hollywood, he felt he was too old at the age of 26 to make it as a cartoonist in the business of animation. It definitely made me realize that we all feel that way sometimes but God doesn't see our lives the way we do.

Don't give up on your dreams because God says you will be rewarded for your good works!  I'm going to continue dreaming and keep believing that one day I will see the desires of my heart become realities right before my eyes.

Morning Off... Really?

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Caregivers long for just a few short moments, minutes, or to even dare a few hours of rest from the constant demands of their every day lives.  Just when they believe they will have a time of rest, that is sometimes the very moment things fall apart and that possible respite is taken away.

Each Monday my schedule calls for me to work from 1:30 pm until 10:00 pm.  I don't particularly enjoy this but I love my job so I do it with grace.  Due to this schedule it would seem that I would have Monday mornings to rest, enjoy my coffee, and have some "ME" time.  Really?  Are you serious? 

No, there is always something that seems to happen on Monday mornings.  There is an issue with my daughter, my husband, or sometimes even the dog.  It never fails that I am up and going at the very same time I would have started had I arrived at work at 8:00.  So, I pray for the extra coffee to do it's magic and for God to give me supernatural energy that can only come from Him so that I am able to make it through the day and night.  

Caregiver, don't loose hope.  There are some days I still find a quiet moment for myself.  It is actually possible.  God is our source of rest.  We must stay in Him for relief and rest.

What If I'm Angry?

Ephesians 4:26The Message (MSG)

26-27 Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.

This past weekend my husband and I had the privilege of speaking to a group about staying faithful to God and to one another in the midst of trials and adversity.  At the close of our time with them we opened the floor for questions from the congregation.  I have to say all the questions were good  but one really pierced my heart.

"How do you deal with the anger?"  I could tell from her eyes she knew much of what we were talking about that night due to her sincerity and need for an answer.  I smiled and said, "I get angry a lot.  I used to get angry because Brian was sick and I may loose him.  I also got angry because others didn't have a clue as to what I was facing or feeling.  I also got angry at my husband, too."  I went on to tell her that it was natural and okay and that she needed to vent to a trusted friend and especially to God.

Well, that's when it happened.  With tear filled eyes she said, "But what if the one I am angry with is God?  Then Brian spoke up and said, "Then tell Him and vent to Him.  He already knows what you're feeling and that you are upset with Him."  She smiled and then Brian said, "We get angry with the people we love.  If you are upset with your earthy father you would tell him so why wouldn't you tell your heavenly Father?"  

Once you express your feelings you can then walk past the anger and look to God for support, protection, provision, and comfort. I love it when God's people can be real with one another but especially with Him.