The Lord spoke to me today. It was very interesting, because he was showing me how I can sometimes be like my daughter, my six year old. Just yesterday, I got very angry with her because of something she said to me.
Reese and I got Lilli off the bus, like any other normal day. I typically don't take Lilli to the grocery store, because I had been going when she is in school or when Matt is home. But yesterday, I was desperate to go and it just happened that I couldn't make it until after the bus came. Lilli complied with getting in the car, but when we got to Costco she looked and inspected her surroundings. In her stern voice, she abruptly says, "Costco?! I don't want to go to Costco!!! Mommy, don't you want me to be happy?!!" ... Wow. A million thoughts went through my head, as steam was coming from both ears in anger. How did I go wrong? I've tried to instill God's word in her. I've taught her to think of others more highly than herself. In fact, her favorite Bible verse she has memorized is Romans 12:10, "Love each other deeply. Honor others more than yourselves." She sure wasn't honoring or respecting me. It was quite the opposite; she was being quite selfish. I turned to her, trying not to explode, and said, "Lilli, do you want to eat?!" And she calmed down and simply said, "Oh." The rest of the evening I thought about this incident. I was so angry and disappointed inside. How can I deter this selfishness?
Well, today I was going over the incident in my head again, when I heard the Lord tell me that we act like that sometimes too. What do you mean Father? He explained in my heart that there are times when we shake our fist at God the Father and say, "Don't you want me to be happy?" We do this when we think we know what's best for ourselves. The Father's response is nothing like mine. God's response is patient and kind, full of grace, "Child, I just want to feed you." You see, Jesus said, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God'" Matthew 4:4. God wants to give us peace and the fullness of life which is in Christ. Jesus also said, "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life" John 10:10. Turn to Christ, He has everything you need to be whole, rich, and blessed. Feed on every word of God, so that you may have life, life to the fullest. This world offers temporary happiness. But all of these things fade away.
I will end with this:
1 John 2:17 "And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.
Reese and I got Lilli off the bus, like any other normal day. I typically don't take Lilli to the grocery store, because I had been going when she is in school or when Matt is home. But yesterday, I was desperate to go and it just happened that I couldn't make it until after the bus came. Lilli complied with getting in the car, but when we got to Costco she looked and inspected her surroundings. In her stern voice, she abruptly says, "Costco?! I don't want to go to Costco!!! Mommy, don't you want me to be happy?!!" ... Wow. A million thoughts went through my head, as steam was coming from both ears in anger. How did I go wrong? I've tried to instill God's word in her. I've taught her to think of others more highly than herself. In fact, her favorite Bible verse she has memorized is Romans 12:10, "Love each other deeply. Honor others more than yourselves." She sure wasn't honoring or respecting me. It was quite the opposite; she was being quite selfish. I turned to her, trying not to explode, and said, "Lilli, do you want to eat?!" And she calmed down and simply said, "Oh." The rest of the evening I thought about this incident. I was so angry and disappointed inside. How can I deter this selfishness?
Well, today I was going over the incident in my head again, when I heard the Lord tell me that we act like that sometimes too. What do you mean Father? He explained in my heart that there are times when we shake our fist at God the Father and say, "Don't you want me to be happy?" We do this when we think we know what's best for ourselves. The Father's response is nothing like mine. God's response is patient and kind, full of grace, "Child, I just want to feed you." You see, Jesus said, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God'" Matthew 4:4. God wants to give us peace and the fullness of life which is in Christ. Jesus also said, "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life" John 10:10. Turn to Christ, He has everything you need to be whole, rich, and blessed. Feed on every word of God, so that you may have life, life to the fullest. This world offers temporary happiness. But all of these things fade away.
I will end with this:
1 John 2:17 "And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.
