Do you ever feel like you're juggling? Ok, so here's how I feel! Sometimes I feel like I am this awkward juggler. I am standing there with my knees knocking/holding two poles and above me are like 10 plates!!!!!!!!!! How in the world can I juggle 10 plates above with just 2 poles? Bending poles at that!!!!!! I can see the plates--coming down at me. Now, what do I do??? Do I still try to poke some as a few come crashing down? Do I try to save some? Or do I just throw my poles down and say "to heck with it!". Well....here's how I juggle......
Sometimes, I try to juggle even though I know what the outcome will be. And that could be a several ways. Sometimes I juggle stupendously. And I pat myself on the back, because, well, I think "I'm an expert juggler!"! Other times I just drop the poles and retreat. Not even turning around to see where the pieces land. Other times I catch a few and let a few fall. And, then there are those times that I realize, I'm not a juggler at all. I"m just a: Daughter/mother/friend/confidant/wife/grandmother/Child of God who BALANCES plates. Not tries to JUGGLE them. It's impossible. Fact to self: I . AM. NOT. A. JUGGLER. What i AM is one who tries daily to balance the different "plates" in my life. And I have quite a few. But, after much prayer I realize that it's not my job to try and "juggle" all things. Yes, there are those who don't "get me". Don't understand where I am coming from. That's fine. I don't "get you either"! LOL! There are those times that I try to "fix" all the broken plates that I have let drop. I can't do that either. I'm not the "fixer". God is. And there are those times when I just have to step back from the plates spinning over my head and smile. Because Jesus came to gather all my plates that are spinning out of control over my head and carry them/arrange them/throw them out or remove them. What a relief that is. What JOY that brings me, knowing that it doesn't matter what lies ahead (or above!), Jesus has promised to collect all my flying plates and become THE Juggler of my life......
I have mentioned before that I love several devotional books. "Streams in the Desert" (Cowan) and "Jesus Calling" (Young) . ( The latter, Not unlike the old "God Calling" from many years back which I also loved). Anyway, I thought yesterday's devotional from "Jesus Calling" was perfect . But then, today's is! (that's usually what happens, each day seems to be speaking right to your heart!)....The first sentence says: "I am ABOVE all things: your problems, your pain, and the swirling events in this ever-changing world. " WOW, please bear with me and continue reading . (and NO, I did not read the devotional before I started writing about JUGGLING!!!!) .
Sometimes, I try to juggle even though I know what the outcome will be. And that could be a several ways. Sometimes I juggle stupendously. And I pat myself on the back, because, well, I think "I'm an expert juggler!"! Other times I just drop the poles and retreat. Not even turning around to see where the pieces land. Other times I catch a few and let a few fall. And, then there are those times that I realize, I'm not a juggler at all. I"m just a: Daughter/mother/friend/confidant/wife/grandmother/Child of God who BALANCES plates. Not tries to JUGGLE them. It's impossible. Fact to self: I . AM. NOT. A. JUGGLER. What i AM is one who tries daily to balance the different "plates" in my life. And I have quite a few. But, after much prayer I realize that it's not my job to try and "juggle" all things. Yes, there are those who don't "get me". Don't understand where I am coming from. That's fine. I don't "get you either"! LOL! There are those times that I try to "fix" all the broken plates that I have let drop. I can't do that either. I'm not the "fixer". God is. And there are those times when I just have to step back from the plates spinning over my head and smile. Because Jesus came to gather all my plates that are spinning out of control over my head and carry them/arrange them/throw them out or remove them. What a relief that is. What JOY that brings me, knowing that it doesn't matter what lies ahead (or above!), Jesus has promised to collect all my flying plates and become THE Juggler of my life......
I have mentioned before that I love several devotional books. "Streams in the Desert" (Cowan) and "Jesus Calling" (Young) . ( The latter, Not unlike the old "God Calling" from many years back which I also loved). Anyway, I thought yesterday's devotional from "Jesus Calling" was perfect . But then, today's is! (that's usually what happens, each day seems to be speaking right to your heart!)....The first sentence says: "I am ABOVE all things: your problems, your pain, and the swirling events in this ever-changing world. " WOW, please bear with me and continue reading . (and NO, I did not read the devotional before I started writing about JUGGLING!!!!) .
"When you behold My Face, you rise above circumstances and rest with Me in heavenly realms.this is the way of Peace, living in the Light of My Presence. I guarantee that you will always have problems in this life, but they must not become your focus. When you feel yourself sinking int he sea of circumstances, say HELP ME JESUS! and I will drave you back to Me. If you have to say that thousands of times daily, don't be discourgaed. I know your weakness, and I meet you in that very place."...
Now, after reading those words and me writing about juggling, can you see why I choose to let MY faith and MY life be rooted in Christ??? I am not perfect. I HAVE NEVER CLAIMED TO BE. PLEASE, read that sentence again! In fact, I , more times than not, I will tell you that I am a sinner. I make bad choices sometimes. I have, sadly, given wrong advice at times. And yet, I have seen actions of other Christians, those who love quoting scripture and pridefully proclaiming their faith and they too haven't "Gotten it". I want to say: "GOOD FOR YOU". And good for them! But, watch the judging. Careful with the fingers pointing.... I hope that others see that it's not EASY being a Christian, it's HARD, even when you know Him better than you know yourself. .
I have always said, I don't know WHY I knew God/Jesus as my Lord so early. I guess my best way to describe my own faith walk is to say I believe in Prevenient Grace. That "calling of God before you are even aware of it". Yes, that is true in my case. I just KNEW Him and His love for me. Maybe you feel that way and maybe not. Maybe that's not how you found Him. For me, He found Me. Maybe in my childish faith, He blessed me that way, I guess I won't know till I get to heaven. NOW! Having said that, I have TURNED away from Him so many times. SOOOOO many times. But, and this is the kicker for me. I knew I when I was doing something wrong. Or thinking something wrong. And I did it anyway. I STILL DO IT. I'm HUMAN. So are you! So, that's tough. That's our HUMAN sin. Because it is in our make up to "get even". Ge mad. Get "digs" when you can. Stand up for yourself at all costs. But then, what happens? Cost becomes nothing. It's hard not to "get even". It's hard to "let the chips fall where they may". But sometimes it's the best way. God will collect the "chips"/the broken plates and restore them. Remove them. Put them back together. And it's not up to us to stand in His way. We can't understand HIS way because we are NOT HIM. We can read scriptures and try and twist them to fit any situation. But that's wrong. Instead, I let Him gently chide me. Not someone else, but let HIM do it. Because only then can I be given peace that comes from obedience to His Word.
I have plates that have fallen. I have plates that have been restored. I have plates that have been removed. I still have some plates that are left in a pile on the floor. But I'm not touching them. God has told me HE is the only One who can restore/heal/fix and remove. And guess what? I don't even have to pick up the glue gun once.
OH, you know God loves paper plates? Bring 'em on!