Log

He sat on that log and took off his "crocs" one at a time...and tried to empty them of the sand that had found its way into them on the playground. It was the annual Ice cream social/book fair at Westminister ...and parents and grandparents alike were invited. He never wears crocks to school, only tennis shoes so this invasion of sand was a true nuisance.....As I observed his frustration, I went over and sat with William, my three year old grandson on the log and told him one of tricks to getting that stuff out of your shoe is to hit it on ground so that all that stuff that has made its way into his shoe could be shaken out. I took his shoe and showed him how and for the rest of the evening at intervals I would see him sitting on that log...doing just as he had been coached.
A few taps...a big shake...and shoes were ready to go again.

We all get a little grit going as we play our way through life and sometimes we too need to take a break sit down and get rid of the bothersome sand that has accumulated along our way. We are going about just fine and then someone says something or someone does something that interrupts a perfectly good walk in our park. It so many times is subtle...but as the day wears on so does the event. Just something that seems to infiltrate our peace and unsettle our joy. We recognize the discomfort but try to keep on going without addressing it.

It happened to me yesterday on two different occasions...and I hate to bring this up again but reading through the bible is soooo changing my perspective...and not gradually either...God is in full fledge...eye opening...teaching mode....and the crazy thing is I am loving every minute of it and keep going back for more. I thougth yesterday..how can I be bugged when I am so entranced in reading the greatest story ever today about the awesome mighty hand of God that continues to be before us. And there it was...right on the front burner of my brain....Stop...sit on a log and let God beat that mess out of my mind...so that I can carry on. And so I did...not to say that I won't have to again sit down at intervals and do it again...for bothersome debris lurks in every area of our lives....and we may not be able to avoid it but we sure have a God who can rid us of it. We just have to learn the lessons he teaches us of how to get rid of it.

1) Recognize it - don't be in such a hurry that you try to ignore something that is a blantant obstacle to God's peace
2) Identify it - when you know something is there...try to understand what and why it is causing such unrest
3) Face it - Take it to God...and ask him for help in ridding your heart and mind of it
4) Stop and deal with it - and then shake out the debris by redirecting your thoughts to something of excellence...God and his ways
5) Get up and move on...trust God to release whatever it is that has attached itself to your thoughts...and go forth in the freedom that for now....He has helped you to clear the obstruction.

IN the old testament...God had no time for pettiness...He was all about perfection....and obedience...and loyalty. He abhored complaining and discontent and a lack of appreciation for what he had done for His people...and as I read this...I know I am not living in old testament times but oh how I am convicted of my pettiness....on an everyday basis. The things that I allow to get under my skin...are just stupid...and when I allow that to happen I am taking my focus off of God and placing all emphasis on ME! He killed people for doing that back then...and then I go a step further and consider all that God has done for me...and realize that he has given me a giant pass here through Christ.....I should be bathing in appreciation and gratitude and humility.....every minute of everyday...but I am not and do not. I let the little things that don't quite go MY way get in the way of my recognizing the BIG things God is doing his way.

Just think about today what has creeped into your walk that is causing you discomfort? Sit on the log of silence and ask God to shake it out of you so that you can continue on your way and your day in peace and with great Joy.God just needs to give us a few taps, a big shake and we are ready to go again.

Dear Lord, Oh How I love the way you sway my heart and mind into thinking about you. Fill my shoes with gratefulness and joy
and help me to walk according to your ways. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!

website:
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email address: cjodeit@gmail.com