Shut the Door Behind You!

Greetings,

Something special happened at my house for the first time in over 10 years: Jorge helped me decorate the Christmas tree!  At some point when the kids were in high school/college, they stopped helping me hang treasured ornaments, and Jorge just kind of dropped out with them.  To be fair, I never really asked for help because (a) I love putting on merry music and sifting through all the trimmings and (b) I cherish cherishing the memories and tend to linger a bit over each and every decoration.  

Nevertheless, something overcame Jorge this year – I suspect he wants to make our granddaughter’s first official Christmas as memorable as it can be – and he helped me from start to finish.    I was happy to have his help, and it was fun looking at ourselves as elves and at a reindeer frame with a picture of our kids before they were married. I was also impressed that Jorge made a grouping of red robins that looks so pretty as well as a festive woodland animal cluster near the top of the tree.

Then Jorge pulled out my favorite glass jewel of all time – a coral colored octopus that has graced my tree for several years.   And I kid you not, at the exact same time that he was saying, “I better be careful with this delicate…” HE DROPPED IT and shattered it into a million unglueable fragments. The only part that survived was the head. 

I laughed and said, “Oh well, it is what it is!”  Yes, I really did have the loveliest of reactions, and I surprised myself a bit.  I was so kind and gracious about it, and I didn’t even have to ask God for help.  I didn’t have to call on Jesus to restrain me.  I was actually nice of my own free will and felt nice in the process.

I am the first to admit that going regularly into my prayer closet has made all the difference.  More than anyone else on this planet, my kids knew what buttons to push, and I was determined to stay even-tempered.  This was not possible without some supernatural help, so I was motivated to get on my knees.  I held onto this verse for dear life:

“When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6).

It’s time for us to go away, shut the door, and start praying; the rewards are worth it!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we need to be kinder, more patient, more peaceful, and more joyous – especially toward those we love. Help us, Father.  Fill us with Your goodness so we can be good. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

     

WIIFM?

Monday greetings~

“What’s in it for me?” That’s a common question we have all asked at one time or another. It’s such a popular saying that it has its own texting abbreviation – WIIFM – and it’s basically asking if there is any personal benefit to be gained from participating in the activity in question.

Lis, Hormone’s wife, did not dive into the mosh pit last week because she could see no benefit to being shoved, pushed, and/or bumped into by frenzied concert goers. However, countless others seemed to enjoy it.

Last year 1600 snake hunters paid $25 for the privilege of obtaining a permit to capture pythons in the Florida Everglades. The grand prize winner netted a 14 foot snake and $1500. That reward isn’t anywhere close to making it worth it for me. Sorry!

My husband, being the adventurer he is, loves the smell of oranges and after eating one he will take the outer peel and squeeze the juice out of it right up into his nose. Most of the time it will also find its way to his eyes and sting him, but for him it’s a thrill. I, personally, have yet to accept his invitation of shoving an orange up my nose. 

The lady with the bleeding problem, however, saw that it was worth fighting her way through the crowd to get to Jesus. She knew there was a huge personal benefit to be gained from reaching out and touching Jesus.

The Bible agrees. Hebrews 11:6 “…God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

 

He forgives our sins, crowns us with love and compassion, gives peace to our fearful hearts, guides our lives, protects our families, puts joy in our souls, provides hope for our future, heals our bodies, satisfies our desires with good things and on and on and on ...

 

WIIFM? All of the above and then some. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that You reward those who seek You. We purposely set our sights on You. We need and welcome the unparalleled rewards You so generously give. Nothing else compares to You. In Jesus’name, AMEN~