Christian Living

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I suppose this is just another example of the fact that our thoughts are not like God’s thoughts.

We planned and made arrangements for two days to make the drive to Oklahoma to see my sister who recently had surgery. I even left a note for my friends at FW. First one thing and then another came up. We were going to leave yesterday. Then, we decided to leave early this morning. And now, my niece, whom I was going to ride with, has decided that it’s probably best if we don’t go at all. It’s not a real expensive trip, but the price of gas these days is not exactly pennies. It just wouldn’t be prudent to use her money on gas right now.

(Speaking of that note that I left for you, I changed “Thursday” to “early Thursday morning, before daylight” concerning the meteor shower we’re about to experience. But by then, 14 people had already viewed that note. Again, our thoughts just do not measure up to His. His plans are perfect and ours are just grand ... sometimes.)

Wouldn’t things have worked out much better if we’d just relied on God’s opinion about our trip to OK in the first place? And what was His opinion? You might say we couldn’t have known. Maybe we couldn’t. But we certainly wouldn’t if we didn’t ask!! I forget, sometimes, that He wants to be involved in all the little things in my life and not just the big things. He wants to be closer than a brother! So, why don’t we let Him be?

Why don’t we stop to hear Him say such things as “Don’t buy that garment here. It’s $2.00 cheaper at the other store” or “Your mother could use a phone call” and other things that make our daily lives a little more pleasant? After all, He does want to bless us in every area of our lives. So, why aren’t we always hearing Him?

Well, it’s certainly not because He isn’t available. There are a number of reasons we might not hear Him. One of which is very unfortunate... Some of us have been separated from Him due to sin in our lives. But, for the most part, I think the reason is that we just aren’t listening. We aren’t letting Him have that place of intimacy in our lives and therefore miss out on His goodness in ALL areas.

My prayer is not necessarily more of Him in a sense of spiritual things. I want more of Him in EVERYTHING. I want my life to be one that people look at me and He’s all they see. I want Him to be more than just LORD of my life. I want Him to be LORD of my LIVING. I mean, I want Him to be Lord in every tiny detail of every day. I want to wake up with Him in the morning and fall asleep with Him at night. But I also want to hear Him at 2:00 in the afternoon when He says “Look on your right shoulder. A gift just for you,” only to find a tiny butterfly resting there. And my prayer is that YOU will hunger to be that close to Him as well.

I suppose that’s why I write as much as I do. I want to give you what I have. It’s like Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none. But what I have, I give to you.” And the Holy Spirit came upon those who heard Peter’s words. I want to share the things the Father gives to me. What good are they to me if I don’t share them? Besides, I must!

And how can I give them to you if I don’t have them myself? I see the Lord in so much around me and often find myself hearing Him in a number of things/people too. But I want more than that. I want my life wrapped around Him, Him wrapped around me, and Him in the forefront of it all.

There’s a saying that floats around in a lot of e-mails. It says “Dance like nobody’s watching.” It must have been written by someone who has trouble dancing in public. I want the whole world to see me dance for the Lord. That doesn’t mean that I’m some great dancer or that I’m egotistical. See, I want my whole life to be like some great dance. I want a million people watching. And as long as they see the Lord, I want to dance until I’m dancing around His throne with the angels. But if they can’t see the Lord, I’d rather hide in a hole somewhere and never be seen by anyone at all.

Just a few weeks ago, everyone was gone somewhere except my son and I. Daniel was playing a video game and I was soaking up the Word. I felt like praising the Lord right then, so I tuned the television to a channel that had a blank screen and played strictly Christian music.

Then, I began to dance there in the middle of the living room. I stretched my arms out wide and praised Him with all my heart. It was just Him and the praise... and yes, me. I don’t know how long my son sat there and watched me before I realized he’d walked in on the Lord and I. But he just smiled when I did notice him. “Dancing for God, Mom?”

“Yep.” And I reached to turn the TV off.

“Well, don’t let me stop you. I’m going to go back to my game now.”

“I was done anyway, Son.”

And I was. But what he saw was not my usual practice for a routine. It wasn’t dancing with one of the kids. I don’t think he’s ever going to forget what he saw that day. He saw Love. And that’s all I want him to see. That’s all I want you to see. It’s the greatest thing I know. Silver and gold can't buy it. But I want you to know it too. And I want Love to be a part of everything I do.

Lord God, fine tune my ears and eyes. I want to hear You and see You at all times. I want to live every part of my life by Your divine direction. I thank You already for the closeness that is about to become closer as I know that I have whatsoever I ask in prayer. Come, Father, and let us dine together. Let us dance together. Let me do all things as unto You. My life, all my life, is in Your wonderful hands. And if it is Your will, Father, I would like very much to see some of that meteor shower, even if it won't be from my sister's driveway. In Jesus' beautiful name, amen.
© Joyce Pool

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