Monday, September 17, 2007

Take a Deep Breath

I'm talking to myself with the title of this post, but if you want to play along, feel free.

Today was one of those days. I was go, go, going from dawn to dusk. Well, maybe not as early as dawn and later than dusk, but you get the picture.

There was one point in the car this evening that I pulled these out of my purse in desperation.

According to the back of the bottle two small gumballs are the 21st century equivalent to Calgon. You don't even need the bathtub anymore, ladies. Just chew a couple pieces of gum and "you'll experience a tingly taste sensation throughout your mouth as Origins own peace makers, including Peppermint, Basil, and Eucalyptus, release bursts of calming coolness. Within minutes, tense jaw muscles relax and unclench, gnashing teeth grind to a halt and the band of tightness around your head loosens as pressure, tension and the weight of the world melt blissfully away."

WOW.

Sign me up.

Strangely, (although they do help a little) even these "amazing" morsels didn't take away all of the stress in my life and make everything better. I'm saddened now at the thought that I had the presence of mind to grab some gumballs from my purse, but it did not occur to me to pause and draw near to the One who truly can make the "weight of the world melt blissfully away". Peace is not in a bottle my friends. It is not in a candy bar, a tv show, a computer, a clean house, a cup of coffee, a new wardrobe, a perfect body, a padded bank account, in another person, or "fill in the blank".

Did I name your thing? You know the place or thing where you are searching in vain?

It is not there.

YOU WILL NOT FIND IT.

Try here.

Seriously, try it.

I don't know where all of that came from.

I sat down to write a post about the 15 minutes I had to transform myself from the harried Mom who just dropped her son off at soccer into pulled together and refined faculty wife who can hold an intelligent conversation with a well known and respected artist. 15 minutes is NOT enough, by the way. 15 years is not enough, actually.

But hey, it seems God had another message in mind for this post because I can promise you that last bit did not come from me! It speaks to me, though. And that's all I have to say about that.

But before I close, I do want to share one more thing. My friend Sharon and I got together today and she encouraged me to seek out this verse. When I sat down to read it, I was filled up.

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Colossians 1:9-14

WOW.

Sign me up.



16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Isn't it great that we serve a jealous God? He won't allow us to find satisfaction in ANYTHING other than Him!!

Renee said...

What a great reminder. Even as a Christian, I know I look to other things to fill me...to try to calm the stress in my life. But what you wrote is Truth...nothing can satisfy like the One True God. Thanks for something to think about!

Shelley said...

Sign me up too! And Oh, do I search in vain...you named many of my "things." I'm not sure why I search there first, and come to God last, but that needs to change. Thanks for the reminder.

Xandra@Heart-of-Service said...

Oooh! Me! Me! Sign me up twice! When I read the verse you had been meditating on, a passage from James came to mind. I have been led to start a study of James during my quiet time,and for the last two mornings, I have really focused on these verses.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:5-8

I read (or heard) somewhere that we are always leaving a back door open for escape because we are unable (unwilling) to completely trust the Lord for everything. This applies to our financial, emotional, physical and spritual lives. Thanks so much for your post reminding me to give it all over to Him and to go directly to the throne of grace for everything!

Janelle said...

You just described my life right now. Thanks for the Good Word.

Carissa said...

HE will do it!!! what victory there is in that! i'm signed up with you...and EVERY SO NEEDY of HIM!

Earen said...

I loved how you wrote everything you did & then gave all credit to the Lord. Sometimes I too start typing & out comes something completely different & you know it's only from God. Thank you for the precious reminder of getting true peace from the Lord. And for the great verse.

Anonymous said...

I had a day like that the other day and was subtly reminded when I received some morsels of The Word from my Aunt.

Sign me up.

life with the wisners said...

'preciate that.

i mean, when i was reading about your gumballs, i was laughing to myself. and then i read the description and started thinking, "sounds like something i need." and then i finished your post and let out a big HALLELUJAH and AMEN!

Heather C said...

Sign me up! Amen!!

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy Name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits.
Who forgives all your iniquities;
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5

Thanks for the Word today :)

Melissa said...

I just blogged about this same passage of Scripture! Great minds :-) Really, Great GOD!

Alana said...

Heather C,

If you are reading this, I'd love to return the favor and stop by your blog to say "hello", but there is no blog address in your profile. It is nice to meet you, though, and thanks for stopping by!

Anonymous said...

Who's Big Mamma?

Heather C said...

Thanks! Guess I couldn't figure out how to get it in there... it's bellissimanh.wordpress.com. I'll look forward to seeing you soon! :)

Kate said...

I don't think you needed to add fill in the blank. I think your list pretty well covers it.

The kids and I were talking about this very thing this afternoon.

A beautiful post.

Kate

BethAnne said...

Sign me up too!