SOB STORY

OK, I just wanna know…

Is there anyone else out there who feels like they could just crawl up into a corner and sob their eyes out?

For no particular reason?

Most of the time I can pinpoint some sort of "event" that precipitates a crying jag.  But sometimes my emotions just plain baffle me.

Like tonight.

Tears have been threatening to spill over all day long.  Sure, I'm a bit overtired, a bit overwhelmed, a bit overwrought.  But honestly, what is the deal?

Female feelings are fickle things.

They can be *up* and *down* and all over the place – often in the very same day.  And it doesn't seem to me that menopause has "cured" any of it.  

Holly Hormone and her bossy band of various insanities still rule many days.

So, here I am tonight.

Weepy – sitting next to a box of Kleenex.

Does anyone understand?

I'm thinking that I'm not alone.

But I'm also thinking about Someone else who cried.

When I was a little girl, I remember learning about the Bible.  I liked learning about all the little *trivia* things about it.  Like how the longest book in the Bible is Psalms, and the shortest is 2 John.

I remember learning that the shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35:

"Jesus wept."

At the time I thought that was kinda cool. 

But now I'm thinking – oh wow, Jesus actually cried...

...just like me.

That really is an amazing thing.

First of all, Jesus' body made actual tears.  Salty, drippy tears.  Tears manufactured in a body that was human – totally. 

Second, Jesus cried because He experienced emotions.  Real, strong emotions.  Emotions felt in a heart that was human – totally.

And you know what's so VERY cool about that?

The fact that the God of the Universe cries.

I've heard various *theories* about why He cried.  He was sad that his friend, Lazarus, had died.  He was moved by the grief of others.  He was frustrated with their unbelief.  He was chagrined that He would have to bring Lazarus from a place of peace back to this fallen world, only for him to have to die again at some point.  He was grief-stricken at the sorrow sin brings.

But, for me, it doesn't really matter WHY He wept – what matters to me is THAT He wept.

I don't know – that just gives me a warm feeling.

Am I happy that God feels sad or heartbroken sometimes – (and often at my expense)?

Of course not!

I'm just glad that He feels...

It is so very comforting to have a God who understands.

And in that very shortest verse in the Bible – Jesus wept – I think the entire Gospel can be found.

Think about it.

God saw His beloved creatures, He saw their lostness, their helplessness, and it touched His heart deeply.  So deeply that He did something about it.

Yeah, those tears represent a God who CARED.

So, here I am sitting in my little corner, feeling like crying for no particular reason.  Feeling a little lost in my emotions, a little isolated.

But not alone.

Jesus wept.

So He knows.  He gets it.

He gets me.

OK, now I'm shedding tears of joy at how very deeply I am loved.

Hand me some more Kleenex…

Not a teardrop goes unnoticed. 

"You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." (Psalm 56:8, NLT)

"Hear my prayer, LORD, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping." (Psalm 39:12, NIV)

'"This is what the LORD…says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you…'" (2 Kings 20:5, NLT)

How are you comforted by the truth that Jesus wept?

Linked today:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Jen at UNITE
Darlene at TITUS 2SDAY
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Shari at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Wanda at FRIDAY FIVE FELLOWSHIP
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Delight

Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.

This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)

Just a word and a question (or few)…just a little something to
"fan the flame" of your creativity!

And, to further fan those faith-filled flames (try saying that 10 times in a row!) – I'm adding my favorite devotional from the week!


Today's word: delight

What does the word delight mean to you?

What does it mean to you that God takes delight in you personally?

What are the things that impede your ability (or desire) to accept God's delight?

How might we take greater delight in God?


"The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV)

"...the LORD's delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love." (Psalm 147:11, NLT)

"Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God." (Job 22:26, NIV)

"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4, NLT)


Let me know what you think!!        


DEVOTIONAL OF THE WEEK:

Re: The story of Jesus meeting Zacchaeus

"What an amazing glimpse of Jesus' approach with each of us.  He knows us and calls us by name.  He invites us to come to him and know him, and then he goes with us.  Jesus always personalizes his invitations...The details may change, but the work Jesus offers to do in any life is the same work he accomplished for Zacchaeus."


*Seek a greater intimacy with Jesus, who knows us so well.


"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)


(Devotional from: "Life Application Study Bible Devotional - The Gospels" by Dave Veerman and Neil Wilson, c. 2011, Livingstone Corporation)


(SIDENOTE:  Another wildfire is raging out of control.  Not as close as the one that forced our evacuation last month, but definitely way too close for comfort.  One side of our highway out of town is completely closed again. Many people have already lost their homes, and there have been injuries. 

Pray, oh warriors, pray)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

CHIPPIE THE MUNK

One of the things that I love so much about my mountain home is how close we live to nature.

The deer, the bobcats, the hawks, the squirrels, the blue jays, the woodpeckers – the rattlesnakes and lizards…(uh, not so much).

But, my favorite creatures are the chipmunks.

And starting a couple of months ago, I have had a steady visitor.

It began with a visit from Mom Munk, and three of her precious offspring.  I so enjoyed watching them scamper all over the backyard.  (We have this one picture window that looks out on the valley, and it has become my *television* for the natural world).

Well, after a couple of weeks, I only saw the three *teenagers* coming by to visit.

And now, it is just one guy – whom I have named (naturally) – Chippie the Munk.

He usually comes out in the late afternoon – around 4 or 5.  Some days, though, he mixes it up and shows up in the middle of the day.

I love watching him.

He scurries all over.  Sometimes he's digging up food in the dirt. Sometimes he's running all over a tree stump.  Sometimes he's gnawing at something – probably trying to keep those incisors in check!

Then, after a while, he runs over to a cement landing we have outside one of our doors, and makes a flying leap to the nearby tree.  This is the part that completely cracks me up!  It's about a 3-foot jump – and Chippie looks hysterical flying through the air!

I think he's channeling his inner "Rocky, the Flying Squirrel."

I wonder where he is during the day – I wonder where he goes at night.

He sure is cute, and I've become rather attached to him.  I actually worried about him during the recent wildfire we had up here.  Would he still be here when we got home?  Yup, he is.

One day as I sat watching him, I got to thinking about creation.  About all the wonderful things that God has created.  Especially the animals.  I am so intrigued by their variations, and the way they develop physically to help them adapt to the environment.  I am fascinated by their habits, and their instincts.  I can sit enthralled wondering what they're thinking and feeling.

How each creature is unique.

(For instance, I just learned last week that a dog's noseprint is as unique as a human's fingerprint!  Yup, no two are alike.  Did you know that??)

All created for God's glory.

God knows each individual creature that He made.  Every single one.  He knows where they are during the day, and He knows where they sleep at night.  He gave them their unique coloring, and abilities, and adaptations, and instincts.  He created them…

JUST. THE. WAY. THEY. WERE. MEANT. TO. BE.


So, if God is such a perfect Creator – and He knows His creation intimately – how come I have such trouble with ME?

Seriously.

I can't tell you the many times that I have bemoaned the way I am.

If it isn't physical stuff, then it's emotional stuff.

Why am I short?  Why was I born with allergies?   Why do I get headaches all the time?  Why am I prone to arthritis in my neck?  On and on and on…

Why do I have such trouble with anxiety?  Why am I so sensitive?  Why do I cry so easily?  Why am I self-conscious?  On and on and on…

A thousand *why's* to assault the King's ears.

All questioning the way HE chose to make me.

Sure, there is a danger in becoming complacent in who we are or what we look like.  Not all changes we try to make are bad, after all.

Eating a healthier diet, or trying to lose some dangerous weight = good things.

Myopically fixating on one's appearance?  Not so good.

Trying to become more emotionally mature, or attempting to overcome weaknesses = good things.

Chastising and condemning oneself about personal foibles?  Not so good.

Yes, I believe we are called to be diligent in taking care of our bodies, and it's not a good idea to make excuses for behavioral or emotional changes we need to make.

But, it's also REALLY not good to put ourselves down all the time.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made – and we need to gain a greater appreciation for that Truth.

So, as I watched Chippie the Munk the other day – out there just doing his God-ordained thing – I really stopped and thought about it all.

God knows what He's doing.

He did – way back in the beginning when He created Creation.  And way back in the slightly-sooner-than-the-beginning when He created me…

JUST. THE. WAY. I. WAS. MEANT. TO. BE.

Can I learn to embrace who God created me to be?

Can you?


Chippie the Munk might have a thing to say to us about it all.  I think he knows the secret to just being a chipmunk.

I think God has a lot to teach us about just being who we are.

Imperfect bodies – being renewed through His Son.

Imperfect minds – being transformed by the Spirit.

Imperfect hearts – being restored to righteousness.

Imperfect humans – who will one day be joined in perfect harmony, perfect unity, perfect PERFECTION, in His eternal Kingdom.

OK, that's really good news.


So, Chippie, as I watch you and take delight in you being a chipmunk – I'm also going to picture God watching me.  

I'm going to think about Him smiling at how much He enjoys me.  

Loving me for who I am.  

Taking delight in me being me…


…just the way He made me.

Chippie the Munk

Master of Antics, Hijinks, and Shenanigans

(For Chippie):  "Then God said, 'Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.' And that is what happened.  God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good." 
(Genesis 1:24-25, NLT)

(For Us):  "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  How precious to me are your thoughts, God!  How vast is the sum of them!" 
(Psalm 139:13-17, NIV)


Do you find it hard or easy to accept the way God made you?  Why?


Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Darlene at TITUS 2SDAY
Jen at UNITE
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Jenifer at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS
Wanda at FRIDAY FIVE FELLOWSHIP
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW


BLOG = “Blessedly Leaning On God!”

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Content

Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.

This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)

Just a word and a question (or few)…just a little something to
"fan the flame" of your creativity!

And, to further fan those faith-filled flames (try saying that 10 times in a row!) – I'm adding my favorite devotional from the week!


Today's word: content

What does the word content mean to you?

Why do you think it's so hard to be content in this world?

Do you think you are a content person?  Why or why not?

How might we learn to be more content with people, possessions, finances, circumstances, abilities - (fill in the blank)?


"Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10, NASB)

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength." 
(Philippians 4:11-13, NIV)


Let me know what you think!!        


DEVOTIONAL OF THE WEEK:

"How I desire a simpler life!  Material things so quickly ensnare me...I need to pursue simplicity...Help me to develop the right attitudes.  May I develop thankfulness...[finding] delight in everything.  May I trust that my life and everything about it is ultimately under your care, not my own...[Free me] from anxiety and worry...Teach me to hold things loosely...[Help me] live a life of simplicity, focused on you."


*Teach me the secret of contentment - to want what I have.


"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)


(Devotional from: "365 Pocket Prayers for Women" by Ronald A. Beers, c. 2011, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.)

(Having some downloading *glitches* - if you have trouble leaving a comment, just push the Stop Loading button in the address bar, and then try the comment again.  Hopefully this will resolve soon.  Machines...grrr!)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"