We are leaving in just a few short minutes for a road trip to see our beloved Cardinals. But, before we go I am going to ramble on about something that has been weighing my heart down lately.
Skip and I have been talking about this for a couple of days but purposefully didn't tell the kids until this morning. We waited until we knew for sure it was going to happen. We didn't want to crash and burn with the kids...you all know what I mean.
Everything is now secure and we gathered our foursome on the couch to tell the kids. MY, OH MY are they excited. Skip and Z are going to the game and tomorrow we will go to the zoo. The smiles from our kids made it all worth it. They immediately jumped up and started to pack. It was delightful...I love surprising them. Skip and I would have been devastated if they whined and complained about the bump in their schedule. How often do I whine and complain when God places something in front of me that doesn't quite fit with what I wanted.
As I was packing, I was struck with the thought of how our gifts towards our children don't even compare to the gifts the Lord has for His children. We rocked our kids' world and their response was IMMEDIATE. Now, mind you it was a good surprise so it should justify an immediate response.
I know and believe that God has a plan for me. I trust that plan. But I don't always obey when I hear Him whisper to me in my heart. I rebel. I procrastinate. I try to justify why I shouldn't do what I think I should. As I pondered my kids' reaction, I knew that there have been hundreds of times that I have grieved God because of my brat-like behavior.
When God told Abraham to take his only son, his beloved son Issac, to sacrifice him, Abraham's response was IMMEDIATE. The Bible says:
"Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Issac, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I tell you. So Abraham rose early in the morning...and went to the place God told him."
Abraham didn't hesitate. He obeyed immediately because he knew that the Lord was greater than any gift. The Lord was everything to him. It didn't matter that it wasn't what Abraham would have chosen. He didn't try to justify a way out. He didn't procrastinate. He didn't act like a spoiled brat. He did it. First thing. He jumped out of bed with the full intention of sacrificing his son. The thought of that is beyond my comprehension.
I know God would never require me to take my child's life. But I know that He does want me to sacrifice my will. My desires. My schedule. My time. I don't willingly give any of those. I don't willingly give my day to Him and ask Him to guide me. I don't willingly lay down my desires for someone else. I don't show God that He is more important than everything He has given me.
Where am I going on this ramblin' road trip? I am not sure. But I know I need more of God. I need His Living Water to rain down on me and fill up my God-shaped hole I have created by choosing my will over His. I need to remember my kids' reaction to our surprise and make that my response to God's surprises...good or bad. I need to stop whining, stop complaining when things don't go my way.
I need to be reminded that my life belongs to the One who made it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
What a great reminder-to look at the big picture! God loves us! Thanks for sharing your heart! We are going on a trip next week and I'll be thinking of your blog lesson!
Enjoy the zoo and your family time. I hope it is as fun as our Spring Break trip to St. Louis...so fun!p
yeah for the road trip! we'll be following in your car tracks when we head to good ole st. louie next week! we'll have to compare notes! as for the "God shaped hole" i have that too, and i also have been feeling the need to re-connect lately. i've been doing better at making my prayer time more meaningful, that's helped some, but i still feel the need for more. good for you speaking your heart, it's a true testimony.
Woo hoo! Love this post!
You're right! Imagine if you'd told your kids of your plan and they'd hemmed and hawed and wondered and worried, instead of responding immediately with acceptance and trust. I think I sometimes suck the joy out of what God has planned for me with all my "introspection."
Kids have a knack of just living and being joyful. I think God would be delighted if we were a little more childlike in our response to his will for us!
I soooo enjoy road trips! I think I might have enjoyed them a little more before the gas prices shot up, but hey... some things are just worth it. And I appreciate this post. God sees the BIG plan. He knows the plans He has for us. Things that we can't see, but if we love and trust Him, He works out all the details. Thanks for sharing your heart.
Post a Comment