The 'otter' way is the better way....

I enjoy reading about the uniqueness of sea otters. They are quite cute little critters. The thing that I absolutely LOVE about them is that, when they sleep, they hold hands to keep from drifting away from each other. This got me thinking in so many directions. 

Whose hand do I hold when I go to sleep? Usually it is my husband's if he is not working. We have always held hands when going to sleep for almost 28 years. I say my prayers and reach for his hand. Throughout the night of tossing and turning, we turn loose of each other's hand. It is lonely for me when he is working. 

In Psalm 27, David puts his COMPLETE trust in the Lord. He knows that the Lord is there to deliver him from his enemies as He has time and time again. David never let go of God's unchanging hand. I love the song, "Hold to God's unchanging hand". It is such a peaceful promise that no matter what, God will be there. David only wanted to dwell in the house of the Lord.

I need to be holding the hand of Jesus to keep from drifting away from Him. With Him, I will never drift away or drown...but it is NOT a guarantee, it is something that I must choose to do on a daily basis. 

Do I only look to hold God's hand during times of joy or just during times of trouble? Is the hand that I am holding the one that will never forsake me. My husband, my child, or my friend? In Psalm 27:10 ;

 "When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me."

I am very protective and loving towards my friends. I would do anything for them. I would die for them, but I may still be forsaken by them, I have been forsaken by some. I have forsaken some as well. The only one that will never forsake me is the Lord, as stated in 

John 10:27-28;

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

I want to be like the otter in the way that I need to be holding the hand that I can never drift away from... the One that will not let go.

Whose hand are you holding?

Sometimes you feel like a 'nut"...sometimes you don't...

Scratching your head about the title or maybe thinking you would like a Mounds or Almond Joy candy bar. I prefer the latter. Trying to eat healthier each day, I find myself reading labels; searching for fillers, preservatives, additives, artificial colors or flavors. I don't really want anything untrue to what my body needs to stay strong, passing my lips. Yes, I love a great piece of fried chicken or a great Cobb salad. Some have referred to me as a health "nut", but I am health conscious. As little food as I can eat, I want it to be good and healthy. As much as I watch my food choices and try to watch my families, there is another area that I need to watch even more intently.

What do I put into my heart? What do I take in spiritually? My earthly body will only take me so far but my soul needs eternal whole foods. Over hearing a discussion once got me thinking about sermons, teachings, and personal Bible studies. Listen to the teachings, listen to yourself...are there a lot of fillers; stories about nothing pertaining to the gospel or scripture. A detour to sharing the gospel.

I am SO guilty. Just as I write, I teach in real world scenarios. I use life as examples, to compare and contrast to what I am trying to say spiritually. Now I am NOT saying this is wrong, but I do believe it has its place. Just as scripture says: "I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" 1 Corinthians 3:2-3

We, as strong Christians on meat, need to nurture young Christians that are still trying to digest milk. Just as with an infant we can't bring them home from the hospital and expect them to eat steak. They need the milk of the mother to teach their bodies in stages. We can't just overwhelm new believers with floods of scripture without taking it one stage at a time and explaining it in context...but those of us on meat, need whole meat, no fillers or artificial anything. We need to be challenged to get out and teach. We need to grow God's kingdom. We don't need strategic life comparison stories all the time. When I am in worship, I need to worship Him. When I am partaking of the Lord's Supper, I need to focus on His death and sacrifice. And I need to be in earnest prayer to Him without the cares of the world unless speaking to the Lord about it.

We need to feed our bodies and our spiritual souls the proper nourishment, according to our stages and needs. We need to privately teach where each person is and according to their experience.  It is our job as Christians to take what we can from each public preaching/teaching. 

The endurance of the daylily

And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:     Matthew 6:28

Two things are spoken of in this scripture; one is my favorite and one is the thing I beg God to correct every day in prayer. 

Lilies are my favorite flower; Stargazer lilies. They are beautiful and proud. A varied shade of pinks and pleasingly fragrant. I moved to a new house this time last year and I moved one of my lilies with me. It was potted, but after a year with the winds and rains, it sits in the flower bed; its bulb roots exposed, its leaves as green and beautiful as ever. The endurance of this flower, left alone but determined to survive should be what my faith attests to. The lily has no one to impress, no one to encourage it, no one to make everything better, yet it lets nothing stand in the way of its survival. It will persevere despite my neglect and inattention. What does it have that I lack?

As stated in Matthew 6:28, "why be anxious concerning raiment", and although I am not worried about my clothing, my anxiety can overwhelm me, it can flip me out of my pot and leave my roots exposed, alone and struggling. I am never alone but there are times it feels like just that. 

Anxiety is the thing I pray to never have in my life. I know the battle belongs to the Lord but many days I feel my battle is alone, without anyone. I would say my anxiety has reached a critical level only 3 times in my life. Once in 1996, once in 2008 and now in 2016. Those that have never struggled with anxiety do not understand. It can truly make you feel broken and forever damaged. If my heart is out of rhythm, I would have many supporters, and many praying but when my brain is out of rhythm, something totally out of my control and most assuredly without my consent, I need to "snap out of it" or "count my blessings" There are so many phrases one mutters that has never experienced this debilitating attack of anxiety. 

Compassion, understanding, and love are all that is needed. I will never in my life stop taking medication but I also don't play games with it. I am consistent, I am persistent and I don't let up on them. Although sometimes they let up on me and need adjusting or changed. 

I want to have the endurance of the lily. When anxiety beats me down, I need to have the strength to stand tall, stay green and fight for what I want, even when I feel like there is no fight left in me.

As I head out to pick up the lily, put it in fresh soil and tend it back to perfect health, I want to do the same. I want to start fresh and feel good about things. I may not understand everything, I may be hurt and betrayed, beat down by wind and weather, but I can choose to survive or I can choose to die...