Trash Day

After Christmas - when all the red and green is put away - I'm compelled to clean. Actually, clean isn't the right word. December 26 is my day to purge - to gather large amounts of this stuff that fills my house and throw/give it away.

My target this year: the master bedroom closet. Erik and I pulled everything out one by one. Within minutes my bedroom looked like a large suitcase packed too full, to the point of exploding. And so the cleaning out began. Each article was inspected before it was allowed to go back in. 1. Does it fit still? (Sadly, I lost a bunch in round one.) 2. Should I still be wearing this? (The old college sorority sweatshirts had to go in this round. Tear.)

That's when God reminded me of a lesson He's been teaching me - a foundational part of the Bible study He had me write down. I love how God is so practical - how He uses real life things (like cleaning out my closet) to remind us of His Truths. He's not afraid to bend low, meet us right where we are - in the dirty depths of our closets - and take advantage of a teachable moment.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

As I pulled clothes off hangers and threw them in bags labeled "trash", I thought a lot about my old self, the pre-Jesus me. How much of her am I still holding on to? Are there things associated with my old man that I have yet to throw away - parts of me that just down right feel too comfortable to throw away quite yet?

God loves me (and you) far to much to allow us to stay just the way we are. He wants for us to be made new and to step into this new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. The question is: are we really willing to trash the old and confidently embrace the new?

Today's challenge: Do I dare ask HIM to expose the old self that has become comfort wear to me ... and when it's exposed, do I have the courage to throw it away? Do you?

Snacking is for the lazy and I am one of them.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Each one of us has the need to be satisfied - to be filled deep down in the depths of our soul. We hunger and thirst. And whether we know it or not - the need is spiritual.

Only God can fill this deep, cavernous hole that lives inside.

Each morning I hear my "stomach" growling - hungry for the Word to fill me, desperate for His presence to consume my day.

But here's my problem: I'm a snacker. (Can you relate?)

Instead of going to THE ONE that satisfies, I run to tasty substitutes - snacks that temporarily fill the void that rages deep inside.

My list of snacks is long: a stack of dirty dishes in the sink, laundry buzzing, the papers stacked mountain high on my desk, a phone call from a friend, email in the inbox, facebook status, blog updates, errands, projects, more list making ...

And slowly my hunger subsides. Snacking has numbed the pain that was intended to lure me to Jesus, and I go another day pretending I can live without Him.

Snacking is for the lazy and I am one of them.

Only the dedicated choose Him and only Him to fill - to satisfy - to make whole. Only those willing to surrender each day are victorious. Only those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are filled.

... what do you hunger and thirst for?

The Lamb of God

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

... the town of David: Bethlehem. The hills around Bethlehem were home to thousands of lambs used as daily sacrifice in the temple - therefore, Bethlehem was known for its sacrificial lambs.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem: He is the Lamb of God.

"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12

... a baby wrapped in clothes - swaddling clothes. Swaddling clothes were gaze-like stripes of linen. When newborn lambs intended for sacrifice were born, they were wrapped in swaddling clothes to protect them from harm or injury and so that they might be presented without spot or blemish.

Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes: He is the Lamb of God

"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12

... laying in a manger. Sacrificial lambs were kept in a ceremonially clean place until they were inspected for sacrifice. By placing them in a manger, they were kept from thrashing about and injuring themselves, therefore maintaining their perfect birth.

Jesus was placed in a manger: He is The Lamb of God.

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:18-19

Only God could write a story so grand, so perfect to prophecy. Jesus came, Bethlehem born - wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger - to be our sacrificial lamb.
"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29

Grace like rain

I woke up this morning to rain tapping lightly on the roof above, and a song filled my mind.

Amazing grace - how sweet the sound. Amazing love - now flowing down
From hands and feet that were nailed to the tree. As grace flows down and covers me.

Grace to save. To cover sin. I need that kind of grace. Saving grace is what changed the course of my eternity. From death to life - slave to free - broken to whole. Grace does that.

But I gotta be honest with you. I need way more than saving grace. My eternity may be secure but what about my day to day. Who's going to save me today from ... well ... me?

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

The throne of grace. Confident at the feet of Jesus. Empty hands held high to receive the gift. That's the answer to my ever-present need.

Before my eyes even open to start the day ... approach the throne of grace.
When the kids are still not down stairs, breakfast waiting, school bell looming and tension rising ... approach the throne of grace.
To tackle the to-do list ... approach the throne of grace.
To discipline the kids who push for boundaries ... approach the throne of grace.
To use my gifts, to be thankful in the mundane, to forgive, to deny self, to speak gently - without yelling, to laugh at little one's jokes that aren't funny, to serve, to do the dishes - and laundry - again, to clean up messes, to choose joy, to listen to others, to make dinner while they're screaming loud and running laps, to show love one more time before I tuck them in tight ... approach the throne of grace.

Do you see why I need Him - why I want to swim in this grace that He gives? Is your need like mine? Are you hopeless without Him - without His grace that covers?

A steady rhythm of rain falls and I think of grace. Thank you, God, for so great a gift.