Today’s Theme: Bringing Beauty to Life
Today’s Dare: Dare to surrender to the process of change ( page 124)
Change. Who likes it? We often say we want it, but then it happens and we don’t know what to do with ourselves. We squirm and complain and feel uncomfortable. But, the process of change is an important process in our lives, especially in our spiritual lives as women who follow after Christ. He didn’t come to give us ” our life”. He came to magnify His Life in and through us. Trouble is, to get from point A, to point B, takes change. Change is often painful, and usually comes through irritation.
Any irritants in your life lately? Pearls are formed by the irritant of a grain of sand. So, if you are troubled with something irritating you, Praise God, just like a pearl forming, change and shaping are around the corner!
My life is changing. It is good, but suddenly is seeming painful. My oldest son is getting married. Yay! Happy for him. But just like when he left the nest and left for college, my heart is filled with the pain of knowing my relationship with him will change. It must change. I like our relationship, so this change is painful, and at the same time it is joyful. I know, I know, I sound crazy. But, I think as a woman you know what I mean.
So I am reading a book someone gave me ” the Mother-In-Law Dance”. It is a good book. But, in the reading I keep finding myself in a ocean of tears. Here is a poem from the book:
Who Gives This Man Away?
The laughter and love that filled the room
Fades to her thoughts 'neath a silent moon'
"this day has come and goon too soon"
She whispers to herself.
Her son once filled her empty arms
Safe in her nest from hunger and harm
But now he finds love in another's charms
And the time has come for farewell.
Of all the words that were spoken
On this wedding day
No one thought about asking her
" Who gives this man away?"
Today, while very eye was on the girl in white
And the music soared like a dove in flight
While love danced in the candlelight
She walked back through the years
She saw a little boy with golden hair
Reaching up and looking scared
It was hard to believe it was him up there
Now, softly fall the tears.
But she'll be strong
And she'll hide it well
But she knows it's gonna be a hard farewell.
So, as you can see, I am in for change.
The key here in the today’s dare, is that I am to surrender to the process of the change, as something good not something bad. Change is part of life, it is good.
My verse, from the dare for today:
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
I don’t think the idea of missing my “normal” relationship with my son is sin. But, I do think that it hinders me to be worried about the change and to resist it instead of embrace it. The key for me here today is, fixing my eyes on Jesus. That is the key. It’s focus again. This dare book keeps going back to focus. I appreciate that so much! I must fix my eyes on Him, He never changes, and He is faithful in His changing of me. One irritant and challenge at a time, shapes me and makes me a beautiful pearl.
How is God challenging and changing you? What irritants are troubling you? Fix your eyes on Jesus today.
Have a good day.
Living Up!
Debbie
My only child, a daughter, is moving to Florida for her new job. It will be longer and longer between visits, and I already miss her. I know God has great things in store for her, but I will miss her. My choice is to be happy for her and rejoice or sad because financially I know the future visits will be few and far between. I am choosing to be happy for her and now FOCUS my eyes on Jesus! Realistically I may need to find an “adopted” daughter to mentor and disciple, someone I can help bring to the Lord who doesn’t have a mom close by. Isn’t that what the Lord intended for us; to fill in the gap when loved ones are absent from our daily lives?
Today I am aware that the change that Jesus wants from me is to keep my eyes fixed on Him when I usually tend to fix my eyes on me. In spite of the fact that keeping my eyes fixed on me makes me miserable – it still happens. I dared to let Jesus change me when a situation at work occured today. It was a concerted effort to STOP the flood of thoughts by choosing to fix my eyes on Jesus instead. Baby steps- choosing to call out to Him one situation at a time.
Thinking about something and doing it are very different. Making it real instead of the thoughts in your head. My mom told me that once I told people that I was moving, then it would be real and I would move. I told and I went! I was scared! I knew NOTHING, really, about CA but sunny weather and earthquakes. I didn’t even know Cliff that well. But I was compelled to go. The change was hard. But because of that change, I was drawn to Jesus and continue to change more into someone He can use.
Change is like a rollercoaster for the first time. They strap you in and you think, “What was I thinking?” You don’t really know what to expect. You can’t get off. You have to go for it! You hold on tight to the bar with both hands. You get done and find that it was actually fun. The second time, you know what to expect and you throw your hands in the air and enjoy the ride!
Change in the hands of Jesus is good. It is hard, but it is always good. Throw your hands in the air in total surrender to the process of changing into the woman He has planned for you! It will be worth it. He has a crown of beauty and a garment of praise waiting for you!
By the way, we may be going to an amusement park Monday! I don’t really like the rides! Yet I will go to show my family that I treasure them. I will let you know if I get up the nerve to throw my hands in the air!