Stressed or Stretched!

You’ve probably read this somewhere recently in some of my communications. Well, that’s exactly how I feel. We have been (and continue to be) s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d. Many, many times we are not in our comfort zone. We are facing issues we have never had to deal with over the years. Some of the issues are dealing with our walk with the Lord. We just need to stay focused, and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us so we can be more like Jesus. There are days I am more like Mary and other days more like Martha. Need to live intentionally, every day. Need to remember that activity and productivity are totally different. The enemy is at work full time. We feel the distance from family. Every challenge is met head on after prayer. That’s where you come in. We covet your prayers and are so very thankful for those who are prayer warriors. And, for the rest of you, we appreciate it when you do think of us and remember us in prayer. So those are my thoughts. It’s hard to type fast enough to keep up with them as they come to mind. So, I’ll slow down, breathe, deeply. Ahh…..

I want to share an excerpt which I’ve been thinking a lot about recently. It’s straight out of our Lumps of Clay manual.

Isaiah complained: Isaiah 49:4 “I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing.”

Job said: Job 7:6 “My life drags by----day after hopeless day.” Job 7:16 “ I give up; I am tired of living. Leave me alone. My life makes no sense.”

This is NOT how we live, nor how we want to live. Thank goodness! Now let’s look at a couple of other verses and really spend time considering them.

Ephesians 5:17 “Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.” Philippians 3:15 “Let’s keep focused on the goal, those of us who want everything GOD has for us.”

2 Corinthians 3:18b “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more.”

Philippians 2:13 “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

We read over and over that Jesus was a servant. I am to be like Him. So, I need to be a servant? Not necessarily all the time, right? Wrong! Years ago, I remember the common phrase among Christians went something like this. “Be patient with me, God is not finished with me yet.” And then in more recent years, it was not uncommon to see and read “WWJD -- What Would Jesus Do.”

Why is it I need to be stretched? The Holy Spirit wants to draw me closer to the Father so I will be all that He wants me to be. Remember the verse in Jeremiah we all quote about He has plans for us, to prosper us, and not to harm us? Stretching is at times uncomfortable. But the end result is worth it. You see, when I am stretched, I am blessed! Isn’t that just like our Father, blessing us when we are obedient. How cool to feel blessed and not stressed!

It is with this thought I want to leave you. Let’s start the new year being stretched and not stressed!