Keeping My Eyes Wide Open

That’s a new resolution – to keep my eyes wide open, and for that matter, to keep my ears and my heart wide open, too. Since my granddaughter’s parents were out of town on her birthday, I wanted to be sure she was celebrated at the get-go of the day. I asked for her order for Chick-Fil-A. I was in line early and placed the order. I paid, took the bag, and was on my way. Alexia was bubbling with giddiness as I played Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” and as I set out her meal. But, oh me! They gave us a BAGEL chicken, egg and cheese sandwich instead of the BISCUIT, chicken, egg and cheese sandwich. And, I wanted her day to start so on-point. But she didn’t mind. She said it was her second favorite sandwich. But, I minded – I should have checked the bag to be sure of its contents. I should have kept my eyes wide-open.

Same day. Went to Walmart for a few groceries. Checked out and was on my way. Got home and unloaded the groceries, THEN checked the receipt and saw that the cashier charged me for 22 avocados – not the two I purchased. Oh me, again! I should have kept my eyes wide-open.

I play on a Bocce ball league in my community. Good news is we won our first two games. Since I’m the captain of our team, I’m especially proud of us. Bad news is I got a call the next day from the director of the league who had been advised that some of us didn’t have our face masks on. We were well social distanced, but that’s not what our HOA designated. “Face masks are required.” I received my correction well. But, I knew better and as the captain, I should have been a better leader. I should have kept my eyes wide-open.

The point of this blog today – “keeping our eyes wide open” aka being more intentional – more in the moment – more consciously aware of the enemy’s ploys to steal from us. It might sound a little over-the-top to say the enemy wants to steal from us when I speak about a chicken biscuit or too many avocados or carelessly not doing what’s right – but, oh, I know him well by now. The least little time stealer or joy stealer or doing what’s right stealer – is the subtle way he comes to “steal, kill and destroy” our peace and joy AND our credibility. 1 Peter 5:8 says "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion (and for this post – a biscuit, avocados and a face mask), walks about, seeking whom he may devour". It's just who our enemy is -- he wants to slip us up and create loss of time, confusion in our minds, chaos in our family, deception in relationships, and it's up to us to be "on guard, vigilant, and aware of him sneaking into our lives." EYES WIDE OPEN to the enemy's tactics and EYES WIDE OPEN to God's love, protection, tender mercies, and promises. Yes, my eyes are wide open. How about yours?

That Precious Rocking Chair of Peace

I no longer have a rocking chair because its usefulness was over, but it meant the world to me at one time. Oh, the joy I experienced in that rocker. I sat and rocked in it and sang sweet love songs to each of my babies. I’d kiss their soft cheeks and take deep breaths as I smelled that heaven-scent aroma on them. I’d pray for their little lives to be filled with the love and grace of God. They’d drift off to sleep as I cuddled them so close – and often, I’d fall asleep, too. It was almost a holy, sacred place of complete peace and serenity.

I’ve also ridded myself of the not-so-precious "worry" rocking chair. In the words of the great philosopher, Erma Bombeck ;-) .“Worry is like a rocking chair: It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.” From firsthand experience, I can tell you that statement is true. I've done my share of worrying, and it has NEVER gotten me anywhere! I realized that it is a time waster, energy sucker, stomach nauseater, and a depression maker -- not to mention, that I disappointed God when I was a "Worry Wart". Worry Wart: someone who worries too much. Worst of all, being a worrier is admitting that we’re not trusting God to take care of the situations in our lives.

God knows that one of the greatest "joy stealers" in our lives is worry. That's why He reminds us not to worry and to trust Him completely. Jesus said in Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT YOUR LIFE." That doesn’t sound like a suggestion, but a commandment from God.

Sometimes….as stalwart as we may be in professing to have great faith, and trusting in God implicitly, we are still vulnerable to the lies of the enemy. But thanks be to God, like rebooting a computer, we can do a “reboot” on our minds and remember what we know to be true. "Cast the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you." (I Peter 5:6, 7). I love that image! I know what it is to CAST for fish and reel that bait back in. In that scripture, it means CASTING the cares -- all of them -- on Him....and NOT reeling them back in. We CAST them to Him....and let go of them.

I'm learning my lessons well. When worry starts knocking on my door.....I do my best to quickly put mind on HIM who is my worry-bearer. "Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Me" (Isaiah 26:3). I quickly go get in my precious "peace" rocking chair and I cast the cares, the worries and pressures to Him -- after all HE is the Prince of Peace so why should I worry or fret? And why should YOU worry or fret? What rocking chair are you rocking in today? A chair of peace and serenity or the chair of worry – that gets you nowhere. I’m choosing the peace chair! How about you?

Worry Less -- Smile More Often

One of the greatest "joy stealers" in our lives is worry. God knows that -- that's why he reminds to not worry and to trust Him completely.In fact, He emphatically told us "DO NOT WORRY!: Here's what Jesus said about worry:

Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I tell you, DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT YOUR LIFE. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?"

I can hear God saying to us today, "DON'T WORRY -- BE HAPPY!!"