Even in Messy, Whiny Days – God is Right Here

I’m here at my office desk typing this blog. My morning ritual is in progress. Wake up (thank God, I woke up), head to my office, look over my blog written yesterday with a fresh perspective, make necessary changes and publish on Facebook, Instagram, and my two blog sites. I look at my desk cluttered with papers, coupons, bills to pay, mail I haven’t opened and garage sale supplies (yes, I’m having a garage sale with my community this weekend – what a work-out that is). Please, God, don’t judge me on messiness or whininess today!

I have a lot on my plate today – some God things, but mostly Me things. I hear a voice in my head telling me what I do doesn’t really matter. It’s small stuff compared to others who are juggling way more than I am. And, not having all the responsibility that comes with raising a family, I still feel a bit overwhelmed today with “to-do’s”, meetings to determine if I should take that new ministry position, this garage sale, my volunteer job, and other commitments. But, does it all matter anyway?

It’s likely the opposing team, the enemy of my heart, that is causing this inner turmoil AND this whininess. He tries to make me feel insignificant and under-qualified. He plays a number on me. I recall a couple of days ago when my granddaughter had to let her brother use her car. She said: “I sure miss my car!” I replied “I sure miss Papa!” It put things in perspective for her and reality to me. I really do miss him when I could use his arm around my shoulder, snuggle me close into him, cheer me on and remind me “I’m here for you!”

A bad movie is playing in my mind: “You should throw in the towel and coast. You’ve earned the rest. You should sit back and let God use others. What you do doesn't really matter anyway. You should stop right now". Then into this space of doubt and anxiety, I hear God’s voice telling me I’m not alone in this “life” thing. He’s right here with me, always, still saying, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). And this too: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

If we are showing up to serve our Maker, if we are seeking to follow Him, and there is someone or some-thing trying to push us away, then we can be sure it is not God. He is not saying we are disqualified. He’s not hollering “shape up or ship out.” His instruction isn’t, “Come back when you’ve got it together.” Instead His invitation is, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

As I take hold of this truth today, my shoulders relax, my breath slows. I settle into my comfy office chair that has become a place of simple, enlightening, beautiful grace. I start typing this blog again – perhaps the words are more for me than you. I push the POST button and trust that there is someone besides me who needs an encouraging word that helps them know, they are not alone either. That whatever happens in this day and whatever we say and do, we will still have God by our side and on our side at the end of the day, telling us "You are enough!"

To Err is Human.....But Who Likes Making Mistakes?

I spend many hours of my day at my computer; typing my daily posts, providing technical editing for other writers and giving encouragement to friends on social media. With all that typing, editing and publishing, I installed a writing app called "Grammarly". Grammarly's app makes sure my messages, documents, and social media posts are clear and mistake-free. The app highlights the incorrect spelling or punctuation and I just tap on it, and whoa la -- everything is corrected. Within seconds, I've made my corrections and I'm good to go. What a blessing it is, considering the old days when we used a manual or electric typewriter. If we made mistakes with our typing then, we used correcting paper or correcting ink. It was laborious, and often difficult to make corrections if a space was needed between words. Whew! We've come a long way, Baby!

And isn’t that true in our lives, as well? As much as we try to do better, it seems our nature is prone to emotional, physical and spiritual mistakes. Maybe it has to do with the company we're keeping, some unhealthy habits, some compromising of our ethics and integrity, or literally missing the mark. Little mistakes can really slow us down and even limit some of the blessings God wants to give us. I remember back in my early learning-to-type days when I made so many mistakes because I wasn't focusing or I was concentrating more on speed than being mistake-free. Now, at this stage of my life, I really want to be as mistake-free as possible, but like what I heard someone say "I do really well with living mistake-free, but then I get out of bed and meet up with people, and then I need the "correcting fluid" to clean up my mistakes.

I was being challenged by my own post by purposing to live a mistake-free life. I know that's just not possible. As long as we're in these earth suits, we'll be prone to missing the mark. But here's the good news: God is so quick to forgive us when we come to Him, and like the "correcting fluid" I used, "Wite-Out", God applies His "white-out" to our mistakes and not only covers them, but He makes us white as snow. "Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool." Isaiah 1:18 His forgiveness really is divine.

I've come to know that focusing my attention on getting it right in my heart, attitude and life makes for a beautiful page in this chapter and book of my life. My daily prayers are “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 and "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O God!" Psalm 19:4