Grace Filled

What a time of reflection this ‘sheltering at home’ is proving to be!

Now this is coming from a person who lives much of the time ruminating on a normal day!

What it means is just take all that usual thinking, meditating and reflecting and expand it exponentially!

Oof! That’s a lot of thoughts swirling around in this head!

So what have I been thinking about?

If I had to condense it all down to one word it would be GRACE. 

Grace. 

Unmerited favor.

It’s what has carried me every day of my life. 

Yes, carried by grace even before I learned about grace or was intimately connected with the Giver of grace. 

Grace is a manifestation of His love. 

Out of such an immeasurable love grace flows. 

That great love that knows no limits. 

That Is unhindered by all that would get in the way. 

Our brokenness. 

Character defects. 

Sin. 

Pain. 

Wounds. 

Scars. 

None of it is a hindrance to our God extending grace to us.   

So how has that grace show itself in my life?

It would take volumes to tell of it all. 

That I am here, alive and thriving and so is my family is evidence enough of a lifetime of His Grace.

In this posting I ’d like to focus on the evidence that presents itself in this current time and situation.

Grace is woven through all of life...from the simplest little detail to the very big. 

Waking each morning is grace.

Hearing the birds singing is grace.

Sitting with Papa journaling my thoughts and discovering His thoughts is grace.

The knowledge and experience of His love is grace

The ability and pleasure of taking a walk in His glorious creation is grace.

Having people in my life to love and receiving love in return is grace.

Finding purpose is grace.

That inner voice (His Spirit) to guide is grace.

Our God is so very gracious! He is Present in all our moments.
That is grace!

His grace is evident in all the details of my life.
Even and especially the normal life situations.

I ordered a small kitchen island/cart.
Why I thought it would arrive already assembled I don’t know.
Well, of course, it arrived in many pieces. Quite a few pieces!

I knew I was looking at a project. Sigh.
First, I took an inventory, in which I discovered two damaged pieces.  Both belonged to a drawer.
Time to call the company. Sigh.

They will ship replacements.
Okay back to the project. Sigh.

Now lay out all the parts in order of assembly. Sigh.
Now put it together. Sigh.
After a couple of hours of connecting piece after piece I had it assembled.
Now to put the one good drawer in place!

No matter what I did it wouldn’t go. One side kept falling out of the track. Sigh.
It was later evening and time to leave it for the next day.  I was tired.
I walked away, made myself a cup of tea and headed to my chair to enjoy my current read for a bit.

On the way to my chair I stopped to close a window, as the evening was cooling down.
The window wouldn’t close. A two inch gap was where it stopped.  Sigh.
I tried opening it wide and even folding it in as if to clean it before trying to close it.
Nope. Sigh.

So I pulled the shade down and left the window as is and picked up my book.

The whole evening was grace filled.
Without grace this lady would have done more than sighed!
It wouldn’t have been pretty!
The grace was His peace in the midst of one of those bumps life can bring you.

The next morning after spending time with Papa He helped me close the window (I was pushing too far up before trying to close it).
Then in examining the drawer I discovered the manufacturer had put the track on backwards!
In a very short time both issues were resolved. Pure grace!

I am learning to trust His grace for each day.  By recognizing my weakness and often powerlessness His grace is free to flow and
it opens me up to discovering even more grace!

This reminds me of a passage of Scripture.

“but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭AMP‬‬

AMEN!

I came across a quote from Maya Angelou that reflects a perfect attitude to greet every new day With when we know it will be grace-filled. 

“This is a wonderful day, I’ve never seen this one before!” 

Restoration

Greetings my dear friends!
I trust that this finds you well and making the most of these days.
Opportunities abound!
Just not all of the ones we were expecting!

One thing I was expecting, that had been on my calendar pre-pandemic, was offering the meditation for my church this past Sunday.
The topic was Rest. Rest in God.

I did things a bit differently from past times.
Being a lover of words, in the past, I would really flesh out on paper what I would be saying. Thing is, if I was yielding myself to the Spirit, much of it never left the paper!

This time I simply had the Scripture references in front of me with a few other notes.
I sensed a difference. Greater freedom in the Spirit! And God showed up!
Very humbling and very freeing!

Another difference was that afterward, for the first time, I did not critique the meditation.
Part of a greater freedom!
It was Papa’s. It was His message and I certainly had no inclination to critique it!

What didn’t change was how I am left depleted. Generally I am wiped out for a couple of days following such an event.
This leaves me especially vulnerable, emotionally and spiritually.

This particular time my wise, all-knowing God had plans to use it to do a little refining of this lady.

One of the tools that the Lord has placed in my life to help me grow and discover more of who I truly am meant to be is the 12 Step Recovery Program. Through working those Steps, which have the Lord’s fingerprints all over them, one is given a systematic way of self-discovery and freedom. Every Step is done with Him, as well as a trusted person.

The 4th Step sounds so intimidating to most, when first considered.

“ Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”

With time it becomes a way of life as Step 10 states:

“ Continue to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.“

So the stage was set for Sunday evening.
Enter one of my sons, who happens to follow these Steps himself.
During our social-distanced visit our conversation turned to a time five years earlier when a family fissure occurred. He in his no beating around the bush, blunt way, reminded me of my role in the break.
I, honestly, had never looked at it from that particular perspective.
The revelation weighed heavily upon my heart.

Monday and Tuesday found me wrestling with a sense of disappointment, inadequacy and insecurity alternating with justification of my poor behavior those five years ago.

Each evening, before bed, I read a devotion to my husband.
Tuesday’s offering was clearly for me.

So was it about God’s judgement and disappointment in me, His child? No it was a gentle, loving touch from my Father telling me that I needed to be refreshed.
The devotional was about Elijah after he had been used of God and was so worn out. He also faced some serious opposition in the form of queen Jezebel, who threatened his life. (See 1 Kings 19)
He needed to be refreshed and then rested he would then be able to face the issue before him.

I was worn and needed a good, restorative sleep, which I hadn’t had the past two nights. Sensing Papa’s Presence, His love and acceptance I turned it all over to Him and slept well that night.

These past few days I have prayed, read, meditated and then spoke with a trusted friend.  Neither my God nor my friend have judged me, but offered support and encouragement.

I cannot tell you how many things the Lord has brought my way on the subject of guilt, asking for forgiveness and restoration this week!
The process has been amazing to me. The Lord God is so wise and gracious.

Meditations!
Podcasts!
Music!
Some through my usual, daily readings, some from friends, who had no idea what I was working through!

Through those different offerings I was challenged to examine my motives and attitude.
In asking for forgiveness we can think ourselves the ‘better person’. Especially when others had a part too and aren’t owning it.
Apologizing needs to be only for one’s part without accepting anymore.
The focus is our ‘side of the street’. That is our only business.
How our apology is received is not our business either.
Use only necessary words and DO NOT add a ‘but’ in there! No excuses!
In other words humility is necessary. So is speaking truth in love!
The result? Peace in our hearts and possibly reconciliation.
Both are God’s part.

Before I sat down to write this post I wrote a letter that’s words have been taking shape all week. It sits in my mailbox now waiting to be picked up.
The weight has lifted and I rest in my God restored no matter how my offering is received.

You see He is my Shepherd.
He leads me and restores me!

To God be the the Glory!


“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:1-6‬ ‭NASB‬‬

On Hold?

Hello there my friends!
I don’t know about you, but this has been a challenging week for me!
Actually, I am pretty certain you have had your own challenges.
Even if we weren’t in the midst of this pandemic life usually presents us with a few on a regular basis. No doubt!

The season we are in has definitely presented extraordinary challenges.
The challenges of how to adjust our daily lives are ongoing.
So much that we took for granted isn’t even a choice right now.

For me the biggest challenge is not being able to hold those family dinners!  Then there is the inability to pop over to visit a friend or meet someone for coffee.
Relationships. They are still in tact, but at a distance.

I am grateful for FaceTime, Skype and Zoom! I may not be able to hug anyone, but at least I can talk face to face with them!

As I’m sure you are aware, there are many things on the challenge list, but there is no need to rehearse them.
What we need to do is focus on how we handle them.

Over the years, as I spent time with some precious people that struggled with addiction one of the common comments was...”I can’t wait to get back to my life.”
Many people in this world are echoing those words.

My response then and now?  ”What is it you are living now? Someone else’s life?”

I know what most everyone means is they want to get back to life as they knew it.
I get it.
However, no-one should dare to view their lives as on hold until the current situation they find themselves in passes.

There is a good challenge during this time.....seize the time to learn and grow!

Get to know your God better.
And thus get to know yourself better.
This will lead to strengthened relationships first with Papa and yourself and then with your dear family and friends.  Even at a distance.

What have you always intended to delve into but never found the time?
What refreshes your soul? Explore!

This week Papa, in His grace drew me out of a number of funks, so I could be living my life instead of wishing it were different.

On Monday I was feeling unsettled and not happy that the rest of the week was going to be wet and cold.  Then a gentle thought came that I was wasting a perfectly beautiful day worrying about tomorrow!  So I got out of the house and went for a hike alongside a river.
The sound of the river, along with the birds chirping happily in the trees along the banks and the crunch of my boots on the path settled my soul.

How gracious our God is!
A cousin of mine says He is extravagant in His grace and love. I agree!

Tuesday was wet and cold, but it is the day I watch my precious grandson while mommy and daddy work. Nothing blesses one’s heart more than a little one who is learning and growing before your eyes!  This kept me from dwelling on all the other grandkids and loved ones I cannot be with right now.
Grandma slept well that night, as he is now nine months old and in constant motion!

I have been using a shopping service for some of my groceries, but I have found it uncomfortable and it has felt disconnected to me.  Until Wednesday.
When an item isn’t available the shopper will message you to see if he can substitute it with another item.
This happened and as we exchanged messages the shopper was getting stressed by the app and, I believe, the whole shopping thing.  I learned later that he normally does tree work and just took this job so he could have some income right now. As a typical guy shopping isn’t fun for him.
Some of his messages had me doubled over laughing!
Papa also allowed me to lighten the mood for him too.

So is this my typical life? It is for now. Life isn’t on hold. It’s just different.
I believe it will never go back to what it was so I had better be flexible!

Now we come to Thursday.
I had been praying nonstop for a friend who had CF. She was in the hospital for quite a while waiting for two compatible lungs. The surgery happened in January and she went home a couple of weeks ago.
Somehow she caught COVID-19. She died yesterday leaving a ten year old daughter. I told my God it just wasn’t right! True injustice!
What do I know?  Not much.
I do know Papa is loving and good. This is the One who brought me peace in the midst of this heartbreak.
 I know He doesn’t cause these calamities and injustices, but is intending to redeem all the brokenness. We need but rest in Him.

To rest in Him we need to get to know Him. We have the opportunity right now.
Today is a perfect time to draw nearer Him.
I know that was His intention for me this Friday.
I’m spending the day on the couch waiting for the reaction to the shingles shot to pass.
That’s life.
My life.
A perfect time to draw near my great God and live my life in its fullness!

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
‭‭James‬ ‭4:8‬ a NASB‬‬

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!””
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:1-2‬ ‭NASB‬‬

The Illusion of Control

Dearest Ones, I am in a quandary as to what to entitle this post.
You, of course, know the title as you are reading the finished product!
“Control”or “Acceptance” are my top choices at the moment.

A few days ago I had the title or so I thought...
As I was journaling I had a few thoughts for a fresh post. My journaling is between Papa and me. So when my heart heard “How about Control?” I knew Who was speaking.

My mind starting forming ideas of how to approach this subject....
How I have learned to let go of the false belief that I have control over much.
How others try to control you.
How freeing it is to let go.
How important it was to be still and sit with one’s thoughts.
Etc!

The last few days my God has revealed to me what He had in mind.
The intention was to help this lady realize she had been reverting to old behaviors! Very controlling behaviors!

I am a lover of lists.
Having lists means you can check things off, which gives a sense of accomplishment, at least to me.
Lists are not a problem in themselves...it’s what we do with them.  Do we allow them to control us?

Back in the day I would make impossible lists for each day and then go crazy trying to complete them.  I liked to stay on top of everything at all times!

A list from forty plus years ago had many typical things on it with the addition, one particular day, of reupholstering the couch. The thing is I expected to accomplish all my usual tasks AND get that couch covered all in one day. Do or die!
I did it too!
Only problem was it required neglecting and abusing loved ones, including myself,  as this driven woman became very grouchy!

I have learned that one must be realistic.   Whenever I have tackled projects since then I try to set time aside and accept that something else on “the list” will have to be left undone.

This desire to cross every ‘t’ and dot every ‘i’ has haunted me all my life. This is the foolish drive to be in control at all times!  It is an illusion.
It is one way of keeping so busy you have no time to address what is really going on in your head and heart.

Monday evening I was listening to a Brene Brown podcast in preparation for a zoom meeting with some of the most beautiful women I know.  
I was ironing as I listened
Yes, I still iron!
Anyway, lo and behold the topic was about control and as I listened I thought none of it was new to me. I mean after all I have moved past this!

Back to the ironing...I was ironing because there was something to iron and being back in my old ways it needed doing right then and there!
It had been a full day. We had just sold our old home and I had some loose ends to tie up. Things that had to be moved to the top of the list.
Since I was letting the old self have its way this meant that prioritizing only moved items around on the day’s to do list.
I had to run out before the meeting, which made me late. Something else I like to have control of...time!  I do not like being late!

So, dear friends I was a bit crazed!
Until Papa got my attention.
I was fussing that I would be late. And I was tired.
A simple question came to me. Getting a little weary?
Ah yes my Lord, I am weary! Weary of me and my craziness.

I took a deep breathe, accepted the fact that I would be a little late for my meeting and got a measure of quiet for my soul.

Keeping myself busy to distraction brings unnecessary complications.
Earlier in the day I had written two letters and wanted to include copies of my last blog post. After the meeting I decided to get that done.
It seems I need a fresh lesson...
In my rush I deleted the entire post.
My thoughts and words gone in one tap of my keyboard.

I posted for a few minutes then decided to practice a little yoga and have time being quiet before my God.   I heard...

““Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.””
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46:10‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Finally I let everything go.

The following day was a day of reflection and listening.
I’m not anxious over this pandemic.
I do know I am powerless apart from following guidelines. My trust is in my God.
I just do not like feeling restricted. I want to see whom I want to see when I want to see them.
Feeling powerless over many choices that I have normally is unsettling.
Until I admitted this and accepted it I would revert to my frantic behavior.
Papa and I sorted this all out.
Peace has been restored to my soul.

This morning I awoke with a thought of how to recover that deleted post.
The first paragraph is lost, but I was able to repost the rest.

Once I ‘let go and let God’ clarity came.
My God is always in control, but when we are trying to control our world we are too buy to notice.
The solution is to get quiet before the Almighty One. He has it all under control. Even when it seems our world is spinning totally out of control. Much if it is our own doing!
Getting quite before Him allows us to gain His perspective. One that brings peace with it. Then things fall into place!

It’s decided! I’m using ‘Control’ in the title!

The verse I have ended my previous two posts fits here as well.

“So teach us to number our days, That we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭90:12‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Opportunities

Dear Readers,

The first paragraph of this post from April 7th was inadvertently deleted. However, I decided to repost. May it be a blessing to someone!

I, for one, am choosing to take every opportunity that is afforded me.

These opportunities are meant to help me learn and grow and come out the other side of this crazy time.

I chose the opportunity to have order in my day. I keep to a routine.

And first things first....

Thus....

God first!

Every day we have the opportunity to start afresh with our God.

Like every relationship that we want to see grow, we need to invest time and attention.

No matter what commitments may fill one’s day it is critical to make time to ‘come apart’ so you don’t ‘come apart’!

For me journaling is the first piece.  I dump all my thoughts out and in doing so Papa helps me sort through them. Reading, meditation and prayer follow.

Then I’m ready to go into my day to seize the many opportunities that are mine to pursue.

One opportunity I am taking advantage of is to keep my body moving. This means I practice my yoga on a daily basis and get as many walks in a week as possible.

Today I took two walks.

The first walk was in Litchfield. The walk took me through the Stations of the Cross.  This was an opportunity to reflect on what this week means to me.

I brought my journal and wrote my thoughts down as I walked. For me writing makes more permanent the thoughts and feelings that arise so they do not become lost.

The second walk was after dinner and kept me in my sweet neighborhood.

There are many mature trees around us and quite a few have little buds getting ready to unfurl.

How this made me smile!

I thanked God for the season of spring and that this pandemic didn’t occur in the dead of winter!

Could you imagine if we were more confined? Imagine if it were very cold and overcast?

It would not do anything to lift our mood!

I, for one, become a little blue towards the end of winter.

It wouldn’t have been pretty!

A question came to mind, as I expressed gratitude for the season.

“What else makes you smile?”

My reply?

My sons!

They are wonderful men and I love their sense of humor!

Thinking of some of their antics makes me chuckle!

Reflecting on their kindnesses and love brings a big smile to my face and heart!

Then there is a little eight month old boy who is the best boy!

Oh the list grew and words of gratitude tumbled out in a rush.

Truly I could go on with all that came to mind...all my dear family and friends.

Each one a treasure from Papa to me!

People are the true treasures, aren’t they?

So an opportunity to reflect upon those treasures is available to each of us!

When a name or face comes to mind that we wouldn’t truthfully be able to declare a treasure, we have the opportunity to bring them before our God and learn to see through His eyes.

You might be reading my words and wondering if I’m for real...how can anyone be so positive?

Well, I have my moments when I find myself down and anxious. But I have learned that what one focuses on grows bigger, so I turn my eyes to my God!

He can never grow too big!

I love writing and over the years have had some periods of time where the words just flowed.

Then they seem to dry up.

I’m taking the opportunity to get back into the flow. It is the perfect time, as I seem to have some extra room in my schedule!

All that journaling and those walks I take give the Spirit the opportunity to speak to my heart. Thoughts arise that I know are not from me.

Perspectives are presented that I need to consider.

Directions and paths are fine tuned.

When I’m willing and open that is!

I must confess that for a while I was chaffing at the bit, as I thought I had all the opportunities lined up for the foreseeable future. The majority of them had to be put on hold until who knows when?

Then there are all the family gatherings that, too, are on hold.

I could list many things I do not like at the moment, but then I would be missing the opportunities that are available to me!

So by the grace of God I choose acceptance of what I cannot change and the courage to change the things I can.

What can I change?

My attitude!

Then with a change in direction I can...

Go after ever opportunity Papa has made available to me to help me learn more about myself and Him.  Opportunities that lay a fresh path that is less cluttered!

The opportunities are endless!

Look around...what opportunities has the Living God made available for you?

We can start by praying...

“So teach us to number our days, That we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom.”

Psalm 90:12

Redeeming the Time

Hello there my dear friends!
It has been a few years, yes, years(!) since I have contributed anything to my blog.
You might wonder why now or you are presuming that our current world situation is the motivator.
Not so.
Let me explain....
A course I am taking asked me to list twenty simple things I could do in the following few days. I numbered the page one to twenty and then began my entries. The very first one was to write a paragraph or two for the blog.
My immediate thought was...”What? that isn’t something ‘simple’, Papa!”

You see I knew it was my God who had my hand write that down.
So I told Him that He would have to give me the words, as always.
Then I went my merry way.
That was yesterday.

Each morning one of the very first things I do is to journal three pages worth.
This morning was no different and as I began to write I realized I was being given the words to share here.  How faithful my God is!
May they encourage your heart and cause you to draw nearer to the Living God!

The last day of March! A March that no one will ever forget!
April will join it in infamy, I am certain.
What will be written about this time in history? It will depend upon who is doing the writing!
Everyone has their opinions, but how many really know the truth of any situation?
We all see from our own perspective, but is it with clear lenses? I doubt it. There is only One who sees clearly, is unbiased and not motivated by any fear.
It is in this One that I put my trust.

It seems like most everyone is waiting for the other shoe to drop.... Who will contract the virus next? Will it be me? Someone dear to me? Will we survive?
Again only He knows. And He is in control!

Is He watching from afar and moving pieces around like on a chessboard?
This one is next....That One doesn’t make it......
No! I do not believe that at all!

My God is Creator, not destroyer.
He does not bring calamity on anyone.
He is the God of compassion. He is the God of all comfort.
And He is the Redeemer!

He is redeeming now. We need to just open our eyes and heart.
Yes, there is pain and loss and I do not make light of this fact. However, dwelling on this does not change it, but does add to the darkness around us and in us.

If we looked to Him and trust in Him....Cry out to Him, He will open our eyes to all the blessings, all the good! We will begin to see through His eyes and gain His perspective.

My desire through all this is to draw nearer to Him, to grow deeper in my intimacy with him. I desire to be a usable vessel, His vessel meet for the Master’s use!
This comes from the Scripture verse - 2 Timothy 2:21.
I memorized this some 40 years ago and did it in the King James Version.

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Meet...useful.

In the beginning this vessel (me) was so packed full of junk... Clogged.... Not hospitable or welcoming and definitely not a place worthy of my God! It needed to be cleaned out!  Just like a blocked artery.
I don’t know much about the medical procedure done to clear out an artery, as to whether it  gets everything out of the artery and leaves it clean and like brand new, but I know that the cleaning out of this vessel has been a long process. And it’s ongoing!

Pain, of course, has been part of this process, but it has been a healing pain.
The more we yield, the easier it is to let go of the junk and make more room for the Spirit of God.
In time His life, His Spirit becomes like a river that seems to flow in and through our lives. God is then able to work through us to touch the other lives.  This brings Him glory and honor and brings us great joy!

Right now we are being called to go within, to clean house, to make room and there we will find we are free!

“Out of my distress I called on the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me free.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:5‬ ‭AMP‬‬

We’ll find that our lives have fallen into pleasant places.

“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In those pleasant places we will discover a sure foundation.

“He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭33:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Those pleasant places and sure foundation are found in the Almighty God alone!
He is worthy of vessels meet for His use!
Allow Him to Redeem this time in your life so one day you can look back and say you were eternally grateful for this very hard time in your history.

May this prayer be on every heart.

“So teach us to number our days, That we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭90:12‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Unproductive Habits

Papa has me doing a reassessment...
Of myself.

I try to keep short accounts.
Most often the Spirit lets me know when I have done something that needs correcting.
I keep Him pretty busy!

Yet, there are subtle things that He handles differently.
Those subtle things can be attitudes or perspectives that shift slowly or that lie under the surface.
They aren't often evident.
At least not to me. 

So from time to time He gently reveals to me that a little extra work is in order.
This morning was one of those times.

Currently I am working my way through a small book by Graham Cooke entitled "Coming into Alignment".
At the end of each chapter there are questions to answer and exercises to do.
Finishing a chapter I got ready to work my way through that last section but the first question is as far as I could go.
"What are your unproductive habits?

Unproductive in light of my desire to follow Jesus closely and please our Father.

To be honest I couldn't think of too much.  Yes, Words with Friends can be too enticing at times....
But what else?
I asked the Spirit to reveal anything that I needed to see and then decided to sit on it for a while and see what came to light.
I would never have come up on my own with what was revealed.

I like order.
No, actually I love order!!
Order means that things are easy to find and there is no problem keeping track of the schedule.
In other words I like to be in control and have things go MY WAY!

There there is reality....

No time to put everything where it belongs...
Resulting in some frustrated hunting being required on occasion.
A schedule that gets squeezed for one reason or other....
The result leaving one exhausted.

Note two telling words...

Frustrated
 
Exhausted

Both because this lady loves order and finds it challenging to go with the flow.
Oh, I appear to be going with it, but often there is turmoil under the surface.
Papa has been working with me to "be in the moment" for some time now and let Him order things.

Today He showed me that I am being unproductive when I resist.
Frustration and exhaustion are not productive.
Frustration is me out of step with the changes that are occurring around me.
This results in exhaustion.
Neither are from Papa.

Instead of internally stomping my feet and digging in how about letting it go trusting that Papa has the plan and He is in control?

By His grace I can do this.

One of my favorite verses comes to mind...

"You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You."  Isaiah 26:3 The Amplified Bible.

So as I keep my eyes and heart fixed on Him, relying and trusting Him, confident that He is loving and faithful I will constantly experience that perfect peace that only He offers!
Isn't that so much better than having to have everything one's own way??