Pick Up Your Mat and Go Home

Many years ago, I heard my now favorite Bible story in Mark 2:1-12. It literally changed my life. The story is about a paralyzed man. His friends go to great lengths to get him in front of Jesus to be healed. They remove a roof and lower him on a stretcher right in front of Jesus in the middle of a crowded house, with no standing room to accommodate them. Imagine having friends that are so committed to you they stop at nothing to get you to Christ? Maybe you do. Perhaps you are a Christian because you had a friend just like that. 

The story though, is more than about amazing friends. The story touched me because Jesus gave instructions to a man that was paralyzed that He gives to you and me. "Pick up your mat and go home." Don't let this world and all the chaos and challenges paralyze you. You may have the weight of the world weighing you down, keeping you from moving forward, causing you to be stuck or paralyzed. You may have given up trying and quit moving forward. You are not alone. Like the man in the story, you have a friend in Jesus. He is your answer. 

Whatever is causing you to be stuck, dismayed, feeling hopeless, and unable to move ahead is removed when you trust Christ. Get up! Pick up whatever is keeping you down, roll it up, put it away and go forward in Jesus. 

“I tell you, stand up, pick up your mat, and go home.” Mark 2:11

Waiting on God

Let's face it, if you are like most people, you hate waiting. Waiting for traffic lights, for planes to arrive or take off, for a seat at a busy restaurant, well basically for anything, is hard. We are impatient, and growing more so. The world around us promotes and provides faster service, instant access and reminders of what we need, before we need it, so we don't have to wait.

While there may be benefits to not waiting and to having instant access or results, the process of waiting is in a sense, sacred. God didn't complete creation in an instant. Rather, He took the time over multiple days to create the Heavens, earth, and all that would inhabit them. He certainly had the power to simply speak everything into existence at once. Still, God waited to complete the most incredible design over time.

Waiting implies a process or steps of a process are taking place which when completed will provide a desired state or creation. New life, an absolute miracle, takes time from conception to birth. Perhaps this is where the expression "worth waiting for" or "miracles take time" stems from. Both infer the wait will result is something beyond usual or typical. The result will be exceptional or extraordinary. 

There may be something you are waiting on that seems to be taking longer than you think it should. It could be a promotion, delivery, fulfillment of a dream, or conclusion of the process to obtain a piece of property. Whatever it is, recognize that your desire to speed things up may be counter to what God is doing. His timing and processes are perfect.

While you wait on God, remember that waiting is a sacred time. It's a time where God is weaving and knitting together the most intricate and incredible pieces that only He can create and orchestra, to provide the perfect results for your life.

"And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You." Psalm 39:7

Looking Up

Photo Credit: Casie Steele @Steele a Peek Photography

The enemy is real. He aims to steal your joy, bring you pain, have you doubt and cause you to suffer. Your shield and hope to counter the enemy is Jesus Christ. 

With Christ there is certainty of victory, strength and all that is intended for your good. Don't be deceived. The enemy would like you to believe there is no hope, no way out, and no answer to all that plaques you. 

Look up! Set your sights on Jesus. Know that He reigns, is in control, and has you in the palm of His hand. The same hand that stretched out the Heavens and drew the boundary lines for the ocean is holding you. How can you go wrong?

Let go of all burdens, worries, and fears. Stop trying to make sense of the sorted details and give it up to God. Trust Him to handle it and rest in Christ. Settle into His perfect grace. Embrace and hold Him tightly. For He cares for and loves every inch of you.

"Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance." Jude 2:1

Dwelling

There is a place where your heart and mind go. 

Often without realization or set as a plan. 

You find yourself there for a moment or a time. 

Feeling happy or dismayed depending on the circumstance. 

Away from the world and all its chaos you dwell.

There, where no one can intervene or interrupt, you hide. 

Thank you, wonder why, what if, and remember when all reside here. 

Tugging at your heart like an old acquaintance just dropping in 

to see if you still want to know them. 

Soon, you understand that only God deserves this space. 

Here, He influences you, oh so gently and makes

it clear. God is your dwelling place. 

The place to dwell is not away from, but rather in Him.

There you will know rest, love, grace and peace. 

He provides all you need to persevere in the world.

"How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty!"

Psalm 84:1

What Are You Aiming For?

Ready, aim, begin! You are off and running. On your way to the next important thing. It could be something simple like completing a household task before company arrives, or complicated like guiding your child or grandchild to make the "right" college choice. No matter what it is you have set out to do, your approach is really what is most important.

Typically it is the goal or task, the what you are trying to do, that takes all your attention and effort. In this regard you may at times be hurried, pushy, self-centered or even unintentional.  in doing so, you are likely to miss the key aim which is to do everything you do in love.

Let love lead. Let love plan. Let love create, complete, and yes, let love even listen. It's a secret Jesus knew and practiced. In every situation, discussion and trial His aim was love. How basic and very powerful! 

When your aim is love you put aside yourself for others. You see things from a place unclouded by jealousy, fear, greed or status. The end results is not personal gain but rather to experience what otherwise may never be manifested. With love as the focus your aim becomes clear. For the target of God's will is LOVE.

"Let love be your greatest aim."1 Corinthians 14:1