Lessons from the Ant

     I know I’ve said this before, but when it comes my turn comes around to write on this blog, I try to stop and reflect on the things the Lord is specifically teaching me in the surrounding days and weeks. I think that’s probably the pattern of most (if not all) of the contributors.  When it’s my turn I usually wait until the last minute to write it. I realize it’s coming, I’m thankful for an opportunity to share, but I just keep putting it off. Oh I need to throw that load of laundry in. I meant to order those pictures. I’m hungry. Oops! I ran out of time. Gotta go meet so-and-so. And the excuses go on. At the eleventh hour (or past it) I end up making myself sit down and I try to collect all my thoughts together. Okay, Anna Leigh. Pick one thing God is teaching you. What is it? Surely there’s something. Sometimes that thing is obvious. Sometimes I’ve not been asking the Lord to open the eyes of my heart to see what He wants me to see; sometimes I’ve not been asking Him to search my heart, to see if there is any “wicked way in me”. Because of this sometimes I sit to type, and I’m wracking my brain for words.

     I’ve been in a similar situation for the past few days. I’d get an idea of what to write about, and then I’d forget. What was that idea I had? In all of this I’ve also been studying for an upcoming exam; and guess what? I’ve been putting off studying. I allowed myself to get distracted by things. Good things, not bad things, but not things that made the best use of the time. In all of this, I was graciously reminded of a struggle I have. A struggle that has been with me for pretty much as long as I can remember. I especially noticed it in high school when the papers and the homework and the projects seemed more demanding of my time and my brain.  I’d put it off. I’d study, but I wouldn’t study hard or smart until the very last minute. You know, when your test is the next day and you’re cramming all you can into your brain and after a while everything looks the same.

If you have picked up on it yet, I’ve struggled with laziness. It’s hard to admit, because, well…it’s such an unsightly, sloppy sin. It’s humiliating when it catches up to you. It’s a shot to my pride. I want to be viewed as smart, efficient, having everything in order.  Years after high school, I find myself in a similar boat. I can find so many excuses to not study for my test and do a million other things. This begins to trickle into other areas of my life. My devotion time. The time when I’m scrolling through Instagram instead of cleaning my house. Then I get frustrated when I want to do something fun with friends and I complain, “I have so much to do! Sorry, I can’t spend time with you.” Or I write a half thought through article because I wanted to search for the perfect summer swimsuit and, oops! An hour went by. It’s hard for me to write these words. I am ashamed at the fact that I struggle with this. I would love to rather be writing an article about how I’ve grown so much in this area and be able to share with you how I’m being more efficient. I’d love to tell you that I finished my homework and already swabbed the toilets, so now I’m free to serve my family and my church without the weight of guilt from the things I should have done.

     There have been a couple times when I’ve been on facebook or instagram or shopping on the internet when the verse, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” would pop in my head, and you know what? At times I’d just keep on scrolling. By God’s grace I’m repenting of this. No, it’s not a sin in and of itself to spend leisure time on the internet, but when it is keeping you from what you know you need to do, when you’re wasting time, that’s when it’s wrong. The Proverbs are full of verses calling out to the sluggard to change his ways.  Proverbs 10:4 says, “Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.” Proverbs 6:6 adds, “Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise”. Proverbs 18:9, “He also who is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys.” Then there’s Ephesians 5:15-16 that really speaks to my lazy habits;“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” We have been given a breath, a vapor, which is our life. We are called to make the best use of the time. Why? Because ultimately our time here is not ours. It’s a gift we’ve been given. It’s not that we are to fill every waking moment with tasks and things to do, but we must consider how we spend ALL of our time. Are we constantly seeking after our own pleasures, or are we seeking “first the Kingdom of God”? These are the questions my heart is considering. I do see God’s gracious hand in growing me in this struggle, but I still see it’s effects on my life and I long to make better use of the time he has given me. In this I have to be careful not to become Martha, filling my days with much to do and not making time to sit at the feet of the Savior. To hear his voice through his Word.

     At the end of the day the problem is not Netflix or Instagram or Facebook (or whatever it is that robs our time), the issue is found in our hearts, or desires, our passions. I’m committed to continue making steps to root out this sin, but it will only be by the power of the Holy Spirit in my life, by mediating on his truth as asking the Lord to open my eyes to the heart issues, not just the manifestations of a deeper issue. I want him to “take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.” I want my life to be flowing in this worship, and this demands all of me in every moment.

Pressing On!

Anna Leigh

My All in All

It is very easy to go through life looking to and waiting for the next milestone or stage that awaits us...graduation, career, relationship, marriage, children, etc. For myself, I have discovered that there are two major problems with this.  First, it robs me of present joy.  When I was single, people would often tell me how sorry they were that I hadn't found someone yet.  I knew what they meant.  These were people who were married and were enjoying the amazing gift of marriage, and therefore wished me the same happiness.  However, without meaning to, the idea being conveyed to me was often that I was missing out. . . that until I was married, my life was less satisfying or incomplete.  Of course, this is far from true.  God doesn't make cookie cutter people and He doesn't have cookie cutter plans for us either.  So, anytime we look at someone else and compare ourselves with them - what they have, where they are, what they have accomplished - we rob ourselves of the present joy that God has given.  His perfect plans for each of us are unique and wonderful.  And often those plans mean that the milestones we are looking to and waiting for with great expectation may be delayed (according to our timetables) or may not be His best for us at all.  This doesn't mean we are missing out.  I can be satisfied and complete in the Giver of all good things.  While our greatest joy does await us in eternity, we can still find present and full joy where God has placed us now.  

The second problem I find with being so fixed on the milestones of this life is that they become our expectation.  Every major stage or life marker that I have come to thus far have one thing in common: they have never lived up to my high expectations of what they would be like and how they would make me feel.  I remember being in high school thinking of how I could not wait for senior year, and although I had a great senior year of high school, it certainly did not live up to the hype I had created in my mind.  The same could be said for college, starting my career, moving out on my own, and even getting married.  Let me be clear, marriage is wonderful. I love my husband and know that I am immensely blessed to have him in my life.  But marriage is far more sanctifying and stretching than I had anticipated.  You see, in our expectations, we rarely if ever think or speculate on the way we will be tried or our real, true, fleshly self will be exposed.  We tend to only dwell on the lighter, happier, or what we may term as "fulfilling" things that await us in that phase.  This is why soon after attaining the object of our exception, we move on to the next thing that we feel awaits us and will fulfill us.  The Psalms are an ever present call to us to make only one thing, one Person our expectation.  

Psalm 62:5 "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him."

Psalm 39:2 "With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me."

There are plenty of other admonitions throughout Scripture that point us to Christ being the only one to fulfill all our needs, all our longings, all our desires.  No other person or thing can do that.  

Wherever you are right now, let me encourage you to be grateful - joyfully grateful for where you are.    If you are in Christ, you lack nothing.  And if and when God chooses to bring that next milestone that you are looking forward to, find all your satisfaction and joy in Him, the Giver of all good things.  (James 1:17)

Clinging to the Promises of God

Recently I have been studying the book of Ruth. It is a beautiful story of God's providential care of His people and His willingness to accept Gentiles who seek Him. Throughout the book we see God's sovereignty, loving care, and faithfulness displayed. One of the things that I loved while studying the book was seeing God's character and remembering that God is the same today as He was in the days of Ruth...he never changes. 

There was a time in the book where Naomi was focussed on her past instead of the future God was unfolding for her. I know that can be true for me many times as well. It is easy to sometimes dwell on what has been instead of looking to where God is taking me and seeing trusting Him. Here are some verses that should have brought Naomi comfort as they were truths that she had been taught from childhood.

Exodus 15:2-3 "The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God , and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name." 

Exodus 15:11-13 "Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them. You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode."

I'm so thankful that we have God's completed Word to help us when we face trials of various kinds in our lives. Here are some passages that can help us to think rightly about the trials we face.

Job 2:10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”In all this Job did not sin with his lips. 

Psa. 119:67 "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word."

Psa. 119:71 "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes."

Psa. 119:75 "I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. "

Psa. 138:6 "For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar."

Psa. 138:7 "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me."

Psa. 138:8 "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands."

Lam. 3:19-33 Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust—there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults. For the Lord will not
cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men. 

Phil. 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 

Phil. 3:14 "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Phil. 4:8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

Phil. 4:9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 

We all have either just come out of a trial, are in one, or soon will be. This is why it is crucial for us to turn to God's Word for our answers and to cling to His promises! It brings my heart comfort and peace to know that we have a God who loves and cares for us and is working everything together for our good and His glory. I hope and pray that these verses would be a comfort to you as well. Remember that just like in the story of Ruth God is faithful even when we have been unfaithful and He alone is worthy of our trust and praise! Turn to Him because He cares for you!!