I happen to own a mind that is filled with fears and doubts and a frenzy of thoughts that need to be reigned in and quenched like an uncontained mental wildfire.
Category Archives: scripture
Navigation System
We are in the process of teaching our youngest daughter to drive. We’re going the parent taught route again. We made successful drivers out of our two older children so we feel like we’re reasonably qualified to teach another. There are so many correlations between our physical journey and our spiritual journey.
As I drove down the highway yesterday, I thought about how I didn’t need my navigation system. I knew where I was going and I knew the route to get there. I didn’t need signs to help me. I knew the route well. I did have to drive much slower because of bad weather but I still had no trouble getting to my destination. I’d gone that way before. I knew
Sometimes that is not the case though. We need the navigation system. Remember maps??? Like those massive paper fold out ones that filled up your whole front seat. You’d pull them out on the table before you left and pour over the routes to make sure you get it right. If you had to look at it while on the road you had to actually pull over to look at when we got lost. Yeah, that never happens anymore. Sidenote: I actually shredded some paper maps this past Christmas to make some really cool world map tree ornaments. haha! That was justice for me, therapy if you will, for not ever being able to fold it back up the right way. If you’re young and reading this, you probably have no clue what I’m talking about. Just be grateful and continue to happily click your instant gratification, must have it now, touch screen map.
Anyway… our navigation system usually gives us a play by play, in a Kiwi accent I might add, of what we need to do in order to get from where we are to where we need to go. It tells us in advance when a turn is coming so we can get into the right lane. You don’t even have to think about it unless there’s a malfunction of some sort or you lose satellite. Then you’re sunk. Wingin’ it. Lost. Late to the party.
Unless you prepared ahead.
When I pull up a route on my navigation system, I typically look at the overview just to have a general idea of where it’s taking me. i might miss a turn or make a wrong turn if Kiwi Katrina isn’t as prompt with her directions as I’d like her to be.
Isn’t that how it is with following God? We need His navigation system. Some of us generally know where we’re going but we have no clue how to get there. Some of us don’t really eve know where we are. We won’t get anywhere without a starting point and a destination. Sometimes we’re wingin’ it but if we’re following His navigation system, we’ll get there. His commands are never late. If we don’t hear them, it’s because of our malfunction, not His.
Missed turns, U turns, wrong turns… we’ll get there if we follow Him.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
~Andrea
This is a great song by Casting Crowns, Follow Me. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to listen.
At the end of myself
Judgment calls out my name
Ive been looking for love
But Im swallowed by shame
Throw away all your stones
Find forgiveness in Me
Let Me be your new passion
My daughter, you’re free
Striving
Moms’ Night Out… I really enjoy this movie. I’ve actually watched it several times. Yes, the movie is a bit over the top cheeseballs in parts but I found it very entertaining and refreshing. This clip makes me tear up every time I watch it.
Gosh, we’ll just never feel like we’re enough will we? So we strive…
I watched a live chat between CeCe Winans and Priscilla Shirer (both AMAZING women!) where I heard CeCe Winans say something like this,
“Our believing (in God) should be everything. When it’s not everything, we can’t have joy in anything. There aren’t many smiles. Nothing else will ever be enough. There will always be a striving.”
Wow. Like jaw dropping wow…
Most days I long for rest from the striving. Striving has sort of become a way of life. To strive to be a better Mom. To strive to be a better wife. To strive to be a better volunteer. To strive to write this better. To strive to keep a cleaner house. To strive to eat healthier. To strive to keep friendships from falling apart. To try to please my family. To strive to make a dinner every night. To strive to…. It’s what most of us do in all areas of our life. We’re really good at striving. Not so good at resting. What would I do with my self if I wasn’t striving for something. And if I’m honest with myself, I know I’m striving because I’m not resting in God first.
And that is not simple at all nor is it helpful to anyone I do life with. Mostly myself.
~Andrea
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:29-30 The Message
Keeping It Real
When one gives and gives and gives to those around them it can be exhausting. I’m seriously running on empty, my cup has overflowed to the point of not even having condensation left to pour out. I will continue however because Jesus himself said, he did not come to be served but to serve.
When was the last time you were blessed by someone? When was the last time you gave to someone outside of your family circle?
I was reading scripture today from the sermon at church on Sunday. I journaled Isaiah 58:10 in my journaling bible, see photo, and it has given me a little condensation back into my cup, here is what it says…… “if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” My gloom will turn to sunshine.
I know I always feel better serving others and not focusing on myself, I’m just a bit worn out is all. Just thought I’d share.
May you be encouraged.
~Randi
Empty Plate . Full Heart – The Story
I’ve tossed around the idea of this blog for some time and couldn’t get clarity on what it was to be. Until today. Honestly, the depth of my clarity is just to move forward and see where it goes. I don’t really have a plan except to write. I’m not sure anyone wants to hear/read my words and that’s ok with me. I realize there are a million other people out there with amazing things to say and most of them can communicate better than I, but when I write my heart, there’s both an emptying and a filling that occurs. It’s a necessary process for me as I walk the path Home.
I’m going to write here. If you want to read it, then that’s cool. I may write a lot or I may write little but this will be the place where my heart finds a home. And maybe I can talk a few friends into sharing some of their hearts here too.
I had a wonderful visit with a new friend this morning. She was an acquaintance at 9:30am but by 1pm, she had become a friend. We enjoyed a latte and a banana nut muffin and in the course of emptying our plates and sharing our stories, our hearts (and my tummies) were filled. After she left and as I began cleaning up, noticing my full heart, I was compelled to take a picture of our empty plates.
I thought of Hebrews 10:22-25, read it in The Message and that sealed the deal. Really it was the “so let’s do it” part. That’s all I needed to cross the starting line but then I read the “worshipping together” part and I honestly felt like that’s what the time with my new friend was about. We worshipped together even as we chatted about randomness, shared stories, and exchanged scriptures. We spurred each other on just a little bit closer to the Cross. Our plates are a little bit emptier. Our burdens are a little bit lighter. Our hearts are a little bit fuller.
So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big day approaching. Hebrews 10:22-25 The Message
So let’s do it!
To be filled, the vessel must be empty.
~Andrea
P.S. Thank you for letting me share my heart with you.
Empty Plate . Full Heart 