Running on Fumes

        Baseball, Ballet, Homeschooling, 3rd Trimester of pregnancy have been what sums up my day, my life, and my mind the past few months. Leaving time for not much else. In the midst of this busyness however I have been neglecting the most important thing. This has left me feeling like I am in a dry and weary land without water. My gas tank is running on fumes.  I have been saving my quiet time for the night once everything is done for the day but by that time. I am DONE for the day. So another day goes by without time in the word and prayer. And that one day turns into a week or more! If I give God any of the 24hrs of my day it ends up being just the scraps and remnants of my time. But our great God who is rich in mercy made me feel the weight of this and just like a Shepard tending to my soul let me hear just the right words right when I needed to hear them... At our ladies mentoring group last month.

       I had been thinking up excuses of why I wasn't prepared for the meeting. Why I shouldn't go that morning and even into the afternoon. But the Shepard's hook had a hold of me and was pulling me in no matter what excuse I thought up :) So my completely unprepared self went. It was so bad that I thought I had done at least a bit of the homework for the month but when it came my time to share I realized that it was actually the homework from the month before.  I hadn't even begun this month’s homework. Wow!! it had really been that long since I had studied!!! The conviction began... but didn't end there. The lesson was on Col 3:1-2. It was like God was talking to me.

Col 3:1-2 "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

We are called to seek the things that are above and set our minds on the things above. Seek means to keep seeking, it is work, something we need to pursue. What is above that we are to be seeking?  It is Christ who is seated at the right hand of God.  Therefore I need to remember what Christ went through to get there… coming down from glory on my behalf to suffer scorn, beatings, the effects of sin yet remain sinless, torture and  the complete abandonment of God while dying on the cross.. because of Me and my sin!! And then remember what happened after.. That He rose and concurred death and is now sitting in heaven at the right hand of God reigning.

 Now take time to dwell on what Christ is doing as he is reigning. He is very much alive, not dead, making intercession daily for us, building His church by saving people, preserving and building up His body of believers. Phil 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Then I need to set my mind of the things that are above. What is on the earth is just temporary. My mental devotion can’t be divided between the world and the things above!!!!!  Rom 8:5-7 For we will walk according to that which we set on mind on.  Rom 12:2 “ Do not be conformed to this world , but we transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

There is a major event happening in my life in a few weeks… I am going to go into labor and the birth a child. For the first time I am going to do it completely drug free!  Following that will be a time of little to no sleep, the demands of a new born and yet still having to attend to the needs of my kids, household, and husband. I know in the past this has been a spiritually dry time for me not to mention the crashing hormones…..

Luke 6:46-49 “"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.  But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great." 

So I am praying now that I make sure my foundation is on the solid rock and not the sinking sand of my own stinkin thinkin and the things of this world. I have written down some verses to bring to the hospital with me so that I set my mind on the power and strength I have in Christ. Like…

Phil 4:13 " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Isa 41:10 "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Right now as I get anxious about the labor part I am reminded myself of Phil 4:6-8 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. “

As a mom all the daily busyness of life can completely overtake my thoughts and heart. All the things in my day are sovereignly given to me by God but that is just it, they are things. I need to keep my focus on the giver of all those things. Just like the needle of a compass always points to the north I need to keep going to Christ for my strength, comfort, wisdom, and peace. To seek the things that are above and to set my mind on the things above and not the things on this earth!!