This morning as I spent time with Jesus, I felt a deep sadness in my heart for the lack of time I spend with Him. After all, He is my Creator and my best friend. As we talked, I felt such a deep repentance in my spirit for the way I fail, literally every day. Shame, regret, sorrow, remorse, and so many other things crept in to that one place of, “You know what Dad, I am truly sorry that I mess up so much”. I think of what Jesus did for us this past weekend, 2018 years ago and my heart is filled with gratefulness. Jesus was faithful to fulfill His calling on this earth, it ended in torture that very few of us could even imagine, let alone have a category for. He was faithful. He is faithful.
This weekend a friend of mine came for lunch on Easter. We had a small Easter in comparison to the ones my mom used to host for our families, I am eagerly anticipating grandkids and Easter will be this Nana’s holiday;), but beautiful just the same. She had an experience with the Holy Spirit last week that has literally gotten her 100% off of anxiety medicine, she hasn’t taken one since last Monday and says she just doesn’t want/need it. She isn’t nervous in public anymore and she is at peace. The next thing she told me was that although she has been a vegan for the last year, she said that she just doesn’t feel the need to not eat meat anymore. Now, I don’t know her story on why she chose vegan much, but I know that part of it was for her health. She is one of my self-disciplined friends and consistently amazes me with her ability to hold herself accountable, and offer grace to everyone in all of that. That being said, I told her it was going down as one of my favorite days in history, the day that my friend told me she would eat meat with me! I was teasing, but I really enjoy meat and have only had a handful of friends that don’t eat it, I have thus tried some interesting things disguised as meat sources. I was amazed hearing her story yesterday, I had bits and pieces from one day after she had her experience but now it’s grown! I know God heals. He heals inside and outside. For some of us, it is a process and journey rather than an instant, at least for a season, and for others it is instant. I can’t help but have a little envy for the instant, but the experience of the journey has me where I am, so I’ll take either. Watching what God has done in her life is a gift, we don’t always get a front row seat to miracles in this life, but if we are journeying with those seeking God at all costs, we probably will witness many.
I told you that story because this morning, as I was lamenting the ways I let Jesus down, He showed me such kindness and gentleness, that I wanted to share it. I was truly bawling after Easter and His resurrection and thinking what I do every day to let Him down, and He reassured me that He knew the first day I did something and He knows the last time I will do it. He isn’t surprised and He isn’t disappointed in me, He will use it all for my good. I felt His arms wrap around me and the tears stopped, and I felt peace. Once I got to that place, I knew I didn’t want to lose it again so I asked, “What’s the problem God, why do I continue to do things that I don’t want to do?”. He showed me the world and all the distractions, we weren’t meant to do life with all of the distractions, but the enemy knew the way in, and he has us under his spell. Television (which is becoming obsolete), movies, games, texts, Messenger, Instagram, Facebook, texts, Twitter, email, jobs, kids, meals, friends, parents, and the list could go on and on. Where are the priorities? The first ones I mentioned get the majority of our attention, would you agree? In all this chaos, where do we find time to spend with Jesus? I know without my morning time with Him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Where I am today is this: I know peace and how to find it in some of my crazy storms. I am still seeking it in physical situations, I have seen glimmers, but not enough for me. Jesus told me to look at the distractions and I believe He was saying to pay attention to where I give my attention.
Our loved ones will be with us at the Bridal Banquet in heaven, as long as we share the love we find in Jesus with them and they know Him. I hear continually that all we need is Jesus. Well, if that is all we need, why are we spending so much time on everything but Him? It’s the distractions, and not all distractions are bad, we get to and need to focus on things in our lives. Then there are the things we just don’t need to pay attention to, and I have some apps on my phone that are going away for good because of this talk I had with Jesus, I pray that my story will encourage you to look at your own life and see where the distractions have taken you away from the important. God bless and have a great week!
“I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.”
1 Corinthians 7:35
He is RISEN!
As Beauty Unfolds... 