You are Part of My Plans and Purposes

(originally posted on another blog 9 years ago ... and still relevant!)

"Just a little longer, My child.  I have it all under control.  I am working out My plans and My purposes - perfectly - and not only will your turn to be 'part of my work' come, but you are already, right now, part of it--only you don't see it right now.

I am with you, and you are with Me.  You are!  Just trust Me.  Keep abiding.

(Don't you think that maybe it's a good thing that you 'can't see' how I'm 'using you' in My plans?  For, can't you see, the temptation to become proud isn't there dangling itself in front of you!  And isn't that a good thing, My little child?)"

Trust My Love

(Originally posted 9 years ago this month ... but it's a message I still need to hear!)

My  child…

I love you!  Trust in me, simply,  like a little child.  Don’t try to make it more difficult than I mean it to be.   I am the One who has already fought the battle, and won it.

You are still trying to do it yourself.  You still must let me take control.  You can’t cajole, earn my love and care and protection.  It’s all there already.  I’ve  done the job.  It’s finished.  I have defeated the enemy!  The victory is won!   You are victorious – in Me!  Through Me!  The world can’t touch you.  It can’t  take away from you (or Me) what I have already completed.  It’s done.

I am already protecting you, already delivering you, already have placed you under My wings.  You are already in my dwelling place.  It’s not something you have to  work for, earn, struggle for--not even “believe in.”  It is.

I AM.  And we are united.  The vine and the brand vitally united.  Living My Life together!  A  mommy, a daddy, are there for their baby.  It just cries out knowing that Mommy and Daddy, in their all-consuming love, will respond, shelter, care for, fight for!  Win the victory for!

It’s only when a child starts seeking its own independence that simple faith,  simple belief, starts to unravel.  Just depend on Me.

(Can you really think of even one reason not to?)

Busyness, Self-Reckoning, and the Bigger Questions of Life

(originally journaled July 19, 2017)

I'm having a hard time getting back into the "intellectual mode" since most of our company has returned to their homes. I guess I was just getting used to relaxing my brain--and my body at bit, too, though I did lots of cooking, housework, childcare, etc. while everyone was here.

I have this weird "feeling" hanging around the edges of my brain that I need to make some changes in direction (spiritually/in everything) but I can't seem to get a hold on what that should be. I did read an article about listing everything you do--and then adding the words "with God" to each item. I kind of feel like that might be where to start.

I haven't done Bible reading/prayer/devotions for at least 3 weeks, maybe more. I just got so "bogged down," so feeling "obliged ... dutiful" although maybe that was partly because I was feeling the same about writing, tutoring, etc. My brain was so tired--and resentful a bit, too. I just read a study that suggests that after age 40, people should start slowing down, working less hours a week, because after that age, as the brain starts to slow down, stress from trying to keep up with "full-time" can really affect productivity--so it's better to work less and be productive and unstressed during "part-time work." Sounds good to me, LOL!

Hmmmm...

And then today (Aug 3) I read the following quote:

“Kierkegaard, in Either/Or, makes fun of the “busy man” for whom busyness is a way of avoiding an honest self-reckoning. You might wake up in the night and realize that you’re lonely in your marriage, or that you need to think about what your carbon footprint is doing to the planet, but the next day you have a million little things to do, and the day after that you have another million things. As long as there’s no end of little things, you never have to stop and confront the bigger questions.” -Jonathan Franzen, Best American Essays

Hmmm... am I too busy? Work? Hobbies? Chores? Just rushing around? So many little things... Is it time to "stop and confront the bigger questions"? How do I, as a busy person (who admittedly has enjoyed the busy life, even if I'm feeling kind of tired of it just now), do that? I want to switch gears...but how?