Sleep Walking

Genesis 28:16> Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!”



     I am not one who physically walks in my sleep. I know that some do but I just never have. (At least, no one has ever told me I do!) However, numerous times I have … spiritually. No one told me I did; I discovered it on my own. That was hard to swallow and yet very freeing. You know what I mean? Hard to swallow because it was true yet freeing because I could confess and repent.

     I had fallen asleep to the needs around me. I had fallen asleep to the fact that God is all-seeing and He is all-knowing. Somehow, I had forgotten that fact. I had become too comfortable with my own life that I had grown complacent in it. I could go down the laundry detergent aisle at the grocery store, not think about Him being there, and miss an opportunity to share Him. I could be in line waiting to check out, someone break in front of me and forget He was also there and reading my thoughts, too. I can be with friends and/or families having a great time enjoying the moment and yet still forget He is there. I was sleep walking, so to speak, right through my days. Obviously, I did not want to wake up because I kept hitting the snooze button countless times.  Waking up would involve doing something. Waking up would involve living aware in His presence. Waking up would involve simply not being asleep.

     Finally an alarm clock, as Jonathan Cahn (a Jewish Messianic Rabbi) put it, went off that awakened me, a sound that hitting the snooze button would not have stopped. I was stunned at how long I must have been asleep. I was stunned at the missed opportunities to share Him. I was stunned at how long I had not been awake in His presence. Nevertheless, I was so grateful for the sounding alarm. I felt like Jacob waking up from sleep and saying, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!”     


     *** Heavenly Father, I am so ashamed that it has taken several snoozes to wake me up. But Lord, I am so grateful that it did! When I fall asleep again, Father, I pray that the sound be so invasive that it intrudes my dreams and awakens me from slumber. Forgive me for the countless times that I was spiritually sleep walking. I do not want to miss being awake in Your presence. I do not want to miss dwelling in You. I do not want to miss opportunities to share You. Thank You, Father, for the alarm clock that wakes me up spiritually. ~ Amen



In awe of Him,

Vonda



   

A Pesky Fly and An Open Door

Proverbs 4:23> “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” (HCSB) 

One morning, while getting ready for work, a fly was in the bathroom with me. It had laid dormant waiting for the right time to attack. Once time was found, the fly came out of hiding dodging my head and swooping down knowing I was unable to end its life! It kept flying close to my face taunting me. (I even think I heard it laugh!) Dr. David Jeremiah was on the radio delivering a message I knew I would need. I could not hear a thing he said because of that pesky fly. I was sidetracked on the irritation in the room with me. I even opened the bathroom door hoping it would fly out. No matter how wide the door was open, the fly did not intend to leave. It had found its victim and seemed to be winning the battle. Why should it leave? 

That’s just like Satan. If the door of your heart is left open the tiniest bit, he will find a way in. He will lay dormant at first, so he does not bring attention to himself. He will find the perfect opportunity to catch you unaware. He will sidetrack you by attacking you with his dodging, swooping, and taunting. He will make sure your day is a mess with him, or his ugly deeds, on your mind. Beginning a day with an irritation is hard to shake off. At least, it is for me. It can pour into my day and onto those, I work with. (Sad, isn’t it?) The best solution for dealing with Satan is to keep THE spiritual fly swatter (God's Word) readily available. 

Later, my husband told me that I should have kept the bathroom door closed and simply killed the fly. Instead, I opened the door in hopes that it would fly away and leave me alone. I wanted it to bother someone else. Yikes! I could not see how bad my choice really was. If I had killed it, no one else in the house would have had to deal with it. If only I had gotten a fly swatter or “snapped” a washrag and ended its pesky life! If only I had done, whatever it would have taken. 

So what did I learn? #1) Pay attention to doors left open, even if it is a tiny bit! A pesky fly (or flies) can always find a way in. #2) Keep a fly swatter (God’s Word) handy. You never know when you will need it! 😊



In awe of Him,

Vonda

Immeasurably More

Thank You, Lord, for getting us through another week! I don’t know about y’all but last week was a doozy! I do not have a clue what this next week brings but I know the One who has it under control and is able to do immeasurably more than I can imagine.

Ephesians 3:20a> “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” (NIV Life Application Study Bible)

Those two words stopped me in my “thought” tracks, immeasurably more. As I read them again-and-again, they began to sink in. Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes immeasurably more as being “impossible to measure, very great in size or amount”. Y’all, we cannot begin to imagine what God can truly do! I am so limited in what I can do. Even on my very best days, I am still limited. The best doctors worldwide are limited in their capabilities, as well. Without God’s hand on us, we can do nothing in our own strength. Anything extraordinary that we can do is simply because of God Himself.

Now God, well, He’s a different story. Mainly because He is not like us. He's...well...GOD! He does immeasurably more than we can comprehend. We cannot come close to imagining everything He can do. Just when I think I have Him a little figured out, He does something that causes me to sit in awe and wonder. A very dear friend once said: “He just cracks me up!” I agree with her, as I’m guessing those reading this agree with her, too. I can never begin to imagine all that God can truly do. It’s immeasurable!

When we stand before Him one day, we will meet the One who did immeasurably more than we ever asked or imagined. The lives that have been changed, marriages and/or relationships restored, healing when doctors said it was risky and/or hopeless, and even the dread of Monday’s (yes, even that, too!) being replaced with anticipation. Thank goodness, we will have a new body. Because this earthly body with this earthly heart just would not be able to handle it!   

Are you or someone you love facing something difficult? Just remember that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine”!

In awe of Him,

Vonda