It's All About Relationship #3

I admit that yesterday could have been considered a little depressing but it was necessary to go to the farthest end in one direction, so as to compare the farthest end in another direction. AND... to see where we would place ourselves on that scale if we're honest with ourselves.

We started Matthew 6:25 yesterday and heard Jesus saying to us "Therefore I tell you!" or Hey guys it's Me, Jesus, and I want you and you and you and you, I think you get the idea, to pay attention here because I have something very important to tell you. "Do I have your attention? Are you ready? Here it comes!" .................... "STOP!" .............Stop? .............Stop what? ........"Stop being perpetually uneasy, anxious and worried about your life." My response is that's easy for Him to say. Then that still small voice says, "really?" The question then comes, "Do you really want to go there ED?"

I began to reconsider my thoughts and thought about all those statistics from yesterday. Statistics? Their not statistics to God, they're people. My mother attempted suicide and she was not a statistic she was my mom. A very dear friend of ours attempted suicide and she to was not a statistic she was a friend. A young man whom we had known for his entire life, someone who called us aunt and uncle attempted suicide and succeeded but he was not a statistic he was a nephew. Then there was another young man whom we also had know since birth and he to called us aunt and uncle and he to attempted suicide but did not succeed and he is not a statistic, he is a nephew. There are others and none of them are statistics. In every case these people could not deal with or adjust to or accept life here in this world. Circumstances had become overwhelming and somehow they all felt like death at their choosing was the only option.

"STOP!" "being perpetually uneasy, anxious and worried about your life.... ED." For some strange reason Jesus must think that I, ED and each of you are able to do this. That somehow, someway I don't have to be uneasy. That I don't have to feel anxious. That there is nothing in this life that I have to take on worry about. Asking if that is really possible is to question God's integrity. He wouldn't lie to me, would He? Of course not! He wouldn't speak words that are unattainable, would He? Of course not! From my personal experiences when Jesus/God gives me a word it is not to torment me or to tease me. But I must admit that it feels that way or I perceive it that way sometimes. BUT... I full well know that it's a word to bring our relationship more in line with how He sees it or desires it to be rather than where it is at this moment.

This is one of those lessons I need refresher courses on constantly. There is the story of a man walking down the street, not really paying attention to where he's going and he falls into a huge hole in the street. It takes him some time to get out of the whole. The next day he's walking down the same street and he is now aware of the hole but for some reason misjudges where it's at and he again falls into the hole. Again it takes him some time to get out of the hole. The next week he is walking down that same street and very much aware of the hole he walks up to it's edge to get a closer look at it. You guessed it his curiosity brought him to close and he again found himself in the hole. Again it took him some time to get out of the hole. The following week the man was walking toward the same street and remembering his experiences he passed up that street and walked down another one. The moral of the story is that some of us take longer to learn things than others.

These words led me to carry around a Lilly plant 5 years ago. Yes, a Lilly plant. I carried it everywhere! It became a friend. I even named it, Cal. That was his first name. His full name was Cal i lily. For the next few days, weeks or months I will share my journey regarding Matthew 6:25. Your invited to join me along with others for a fun but revolutionary look into what appear to be simple words. Oh, there will be assignments in order for you to get the full value. And, if your not willing to experience the fullness of this by doing the assignments then I would say, don't waste your time.

"Stop being perpetually uneasy, anxious and worried about your life."

Application - This weekend let's take the focus off ourselves and our circumstances. Let's find someone else to share a little of our focus with. I want you to get out of your comfort zone. Maybe we are uneasy, anxious, worried because there is to much of us? Find some one that you normally don't hang around with. Someone that.... well let's just say they wouldn't be your first choice to hang with. Oh and let's not just throw some money at this. Make this a personal investment or for some a true sacrifice. This could be a daughter, or a parent that don't enjoy each other at this time of life. It could be a stranger. Maybe take a homeless person to lunch? Let this be your only guide. Love is giving some else, what they need the most, when they deserve it the least, at great cost to you.