I want to fill you in on what has been going on. First, I'm not sure where the last two years have gone. I know it involved kids, laundry, dishes, work, and more laundry mixed with the right dose of sleep deprivation. During that time we have made some wonderful new friends, enjoyed some great times with family, and had some major life changes with jobs, and children growing into their own. Best highlight is there are no more diapers, and everyone sleeps through the night. One of the changes that has occurred along with the children coming into their own is that I feel like I've come into my own as well. It might be the fact that I'm sleeping again, but here I am.
This is today's story. I love Sunday evenings, after dinner we spend some time getting our things ready for our week. We make sure our clothes are laid out, lunches packed, backpacks and shoes are in a place can find them. Along with that, we spend some quiet time talking about the things we have planned or the things that need to get done. Most weeks things come up to change our plans and schedules but because we had a plan and starting point it seems easier to make most adjustments. Today we went about our day and our Sunday routine, and I knew that today was the day to get this started again. That now, right, now is the time for this blog. As silly as that sounds. What's another blog going to do? I don't really know but I do know that there are plans for my life and for my family and this is one of them. I hear what the Holy Spirit says but often do no follow instruction as well as I should. As I was thinking about that, I was convicted and I was reminded of these scriptures:
Luke 14:16-24
Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many,
and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.'
"But they all with one [accord] began to make excuses. The first said to him,
'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.'
"And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.'
"Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
"So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here [the] poor and [the] maimed and [the] lame and [the] blind.'
"And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.'
"Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.
'For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.' "
These words bring me to my knees each time I read them. I get that knot in the bottom of my stomach. I've been that person so, so many times. I've turned God down, made excuses or flat out didn't show up. I don't even want to think about what I missed out on. I'm sure that, that dinner was the best dinner ever! Why did I say no? Because I was tired, in a bad mood, had to go to Costco. When I think about the other stuff I've done instead of taking Him up on His invitation I feel like such a fool. But I know that each day He has made new, and I'm thankful for that and grateful that He forgives me when I ask. I'm sure if I acted this way to my friends I wouldn't have any left but some how it's okay to do it to Him because I know He'll forgive me and never forsake me. I think about how I would feel if I was that person throwing a party for the people I love and no one showed. I would feel all sorts of feeling and most of them not good. I've never gotten an invitation for a dinner party that says, "Show up when ever it's convenient for you." Why would I expect that from Him? I know I'm special, but not that special. Today is a new day and I no longer want to take Him for granted. I don't want to do that anymore, I want to respond to Him when it is His timing not mine. So here I am, just as I am, with nothing but my heart open to what He has for me. As for today, "Now. Right, now." is the time.
My prayer for today:
Dear Father, thank you for this new day and each day that you give. Thank you for Your voice that leads us. Father, I ask you to forgive me when I do not listen to You, and when I go my own way. As I go into this new week Father, I ask for my heart to be open to Your will and leading. Open my ears to hear Your Word and my eyes to Your people. Please give me the boldness to say yes to the things You have for me and no to the things You don't. Give me the focus and the self control to not be distracted by the things of this world. Thank you, for Your Word, for Your Son and Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
