Summertime Ease
Summer always makes me feel the need to adjust my pace. I want to enjoy the opportunity to linger and relax. I bet you do too. This is why I want to offer some of my social media “mini-blogs” for you to enjoy.
I know that not all of you are on social media which is where these posts are usually found. The trend of late has been that people want shorter versions of “blogs” so that is how I generate content for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and such.
These posts will almost be like a collection of short stories that are hopefully edifying for your faith. I will still be posting regular length blog posts this summer but intermingled with mini-blogs from my social media accounts.
Thank you for following hard along with me! It makes the journey that much more fun!
Gretchen
The wall of water coming our way.
One of my favorite blessings about where we live now is the ability I have to watch storms approach. Living up in a high rise building, I can see a vast skyline. The dark clouds gather and become quite intimidating as a wall of water comes closer and closer. Lightning flashes like a personal fireworks show. Height seems to intensify the characteristics of a summer storm.
As I enjoy the awareness of an approaching storm, this reminded me of the times I haven’t had this luxury. Previously, I would desperately try to foresee any approaching trouble for our family. Foolishly, and futilely, I thought if I could see the trials far enough away then I could fix them before they came too close. My goal was to keep us away from any and all “storms” in life, to keep ahead of the fast-approaching wall of water headed our way. Whether it was a school, job, relational, or any other related “storm”, I thought it was my role to prevent them if at all possible. Come to find out, that wasn’t the best way to love my family.
Just like weather storms are normal, life storms are as well. God ordains them both. He uses them for greater purposes than we can imagine. It is for me to trust Him through them. I need to be prepared for what I may see approaching but to know that He can prepare me even when I don’t see the wall of water about to disrupt life as I want it.
The storms we faced as a family in the last 5 years have taught me not to fear because NOTHING is hopeless. Whatever is waiting for us tomorrow, God will be there right along with it to help us through it. It is not for me to use God as a way of preventing all the storms in life but to expect Him to support us through them. What I have found is that trust brings much more peace to my life than all the attempts of avoiding storms ever could. It is God’s job to prepare me for what my circumstances will require of me. It is my job to rest in that assurance.
Life is not about me. Repeat after me…… lolThis can be a problem because it rages against the self-centered mindset of being human. God knows that only by crucifying the flesh can we finally feel the full measure of a joy-filled life.
Happiness is not our goal but holiness is- in a life lived to the glory of God. It is there we experience joy as a by-product of a right relationship with the Lord. And joy is so much BETTER than happiness.
Why? Because happiness is fleeting and circumstantial while joy is everlasting, regardless of our current situation.
Oh, how the mindset of God gives true delight to those who are determined enough to resist giving up OR seeking Him half-heartedly!
Psalm 37:4
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
The joys from freedom within!If you are not DELIGHTED over what Jesus is doing IN you emotionally, mentally and spiritually, then you are settling for less than who He is and why He came! He came to set the captives free and yet, where in Scripture do we see Him going into prisons doing that? Nowhere!
He came to save us from our sin and shame, from ourselves! We are captive to our own way of thinking and feeling, which is far greater a threat than what most of us will ever face outwardly.
I praise God for how I perceive and process life at 52 compared to when I was 32 or 42. Life is SO MUCH BETTER because I am profoundly different on the inside. No one knows more than me what Christ has done on my behalf and for that, I cannot help but rejoice.
If you are not changing inwardly then you are being robbed! Don’t stand for another moment obsessing over your outward condition while missing out on the greater blessing. Freedom, peace, joy, assurance, courage, trust, and wisdom are so much more enjoyable than “life” as you want it.
You are more than your circumstances! Because He lives, so can you!!
Donald Ray….Gretchen Rhea…..and Christian Ray. 3 generations pictured. Middle names passed down to multiple generations. But you know what else gets passed down? Generational patterns. Wisdom seeks to identify and take responsibility for what needs to change. That’s how each generation can walk in greater freedom than the previous one.
I seek to own the sin I have handed down so that each of my children can learn early on what to fight against. Among other things, one child has my people-pleasing nature, one my sassiness, and another my stubbornness. They each possess patterns from my husband’s side as well. But as we openly talk about harmful tendencies that need to change, we hope to reflect Christ more and more, enjoying the fruit that brings. It is a goal worthy of the effort it takes.
The fruit of the Spirit ( love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness, self-control, patience and faithfulness) is what I want to mark each generation because that is our “Christ’ian” name getting passed down. ?
These words were uttered by David as he hid in a cave from King Saul, fearing for his life. He was far from the predicted future of a king anointed for God’s service. David didn’t ask to be king. It wasn’t an idea he came up with yet he agreed to follow God, with all the twists, turns, and sometimes delays that involves.
This verse is a much-needed reminder of how it is God’s role to not only fulfill His purpose for each of us but also to determine it. As a former “pit-dweller” through my own tendency of over-responsibility, this verse thrills me! I am not responsible for coming up with the best plan for me nor implementing it. Praise God for that!! I don’t want to be in charge of me anymore so it is a great comfort that I can trust and rest in God for that.
What a powerful hope as we see how God took David from dwelling in a cave to walking in his purpose as King of Isreal. Just as God accomplished David’s purpose, He will do so for the rest of us. Our role is to trust His plan and His power to bring it about, calling upon His Name for every need.
How many other pit-dwellers need this truth ringing loud and clear as they wait for God to save, heal, redeem, supply, grant, what only He can? If He did it for David, He will do so for us as well!! God’s plan was never meant to leave David in the cave. We have the same hope that He is not finished with us. It is God who FULFILLS His purpose FOR us. Glory be to God for that!!
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG
Leave a Reply