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Carving out time for God

Posted by Children's Ministry on with 1 Comments

"Every October, I'm already tired... "The year has just started?"  Yep, the school year has JUST STARTED, with the increase of tasks, errands, meetings, homework...It can be stressful.  And, the school year is just a part.  The calendar year has had me in a choke hold since July, and it just doesn't seem to want to release its grip.  "When do I get to dress cozy?"  My body wants to sit and my mind wants to rest.  "Where can I get a dose of energy or... encouragement?"  In a Pumpkin spice latte?  Nope, not cutting it this year... "Come on day light savings! I could use that extra hour of sleep!"  But, for what?  What am I doing with each day?  Waiting for the train or sitting in traffic, waiting for kids to come out of school, waiting for dinner to cook? Waiting? What am I waiting for?  For Fall?

"Fall" sounds so harsh.  I don't want to fall anywhere!  I'd much rather gently glide!  Why must it sound so painful?  I try most of the year to watch my step and stay the course so that each step is purposeful.  Now, I'm to "Fall"?  Who made up this rule? 

I was sitting on the 91 a week ago, and after going a steady 4 miles per hour, for an hour, I began to contemplate these ideas of "busyness" and "Fall".  And then, I just started praying.  Well, that sounds too Holy.  Truth be told, I was complaining.  The words, "Lord, what the heck?", came to my mind as I started to argue and whine to God about my burdens.  I'm sure you've started a prayer or two like this before.  After starting as argumentative, I'm happy to say that soon my complaining turned to thanksgiving and praise.  After all, I was in a SIG alert behind an accident...I had 2 hours to sit and let God change my tune.  I wasn't going anywhere…at least not very fast.  

As I sat in the traffic jam thinking and praying, God reminded me about one thing that I GET to do... I get to "Fall".  Not the fall that sends me crashing to the ground, but the Fall that sends me gently into my heavenly Father's arms.  I get to Fall, as I bring my prayers into His throne room and Fall peacefully & quietly at His feet. Falling into Him and feeling rest.  Falling in love with Him daily.  

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest.”

--Matthew 11:28

How had I missed this? I thanked the Lord for my commute as I realized I had forgotten to carve out time for Him & me.  Family time & work time I had remembered these last few months, but it had been days since I had carved time out for Him. During my prayer time is where I allow Him to carve out and remove the junk in my life and replace it with His light.  

As I bought pumpkins with my kids a few days ago I remembered this idea again. He carves out the junk of life and replaces it with His light.  There is a children's book called the "Pumpkin Parable" about this very idea.  God sees the potential in all of us.  Just like kids every year choose their perfect pumpkin for carving, God sees the potential in us and is ready and willing to carve out the junk and replace it with His Light.  This is humbling to me.  He gives me, and all of us, a new opportunity every morning.  A new opportunity for a fresh start, to get rid of the junk, and to let His light shine.  

"He carves out the junk of life and replaces it with His light."

"Because of the Lords' great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him!'" Lamentations 3:22-24. 

This fall... I'll be Fall-o-ween Him!"

Irma Bates
Early Childhood Coordinator

 

 

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Comments

Lara October 29, 2016 9:56am

I love how you can put a positive spin on everything, even sitting in horrendous traffic. And "fall-o-ween" Him is brilliant! Even better when I imagine you saying it out loud