Sunday, December 13, 2009

Busyness

Greetings and Holykisses,

It's been such a long day. I hurried, scurried, and started running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Trying to get everything *done* has left me unraveling... abit. All evening, I worked on finishing up the gifts that I'm "making," - that still need to be mailed. My craft room looked like a tornado hit, and because I ran out of room in there; I spread out across the dining room table. Then started carrying gifts across to the living room and began wrapping as I was going...- Oh, I also had the spare bedroom tore to pieces as it has become the place to "hide" everything. I didn't even get our own bed made today, and piles of clothes are still standing in front of the washer... "waiting," their turn of things to get "done." Somewhere in the middle of all that, Myguy asked me "What's to eat?" The decision was made to have hashbrowns, bacon, eggs and toast. Thinking of all that splattered grease, and the mess of all those dishes and frypans on top of our already disheveled house somehow made my estrogen level or lack of it, reach my hissy fit - melt down point. It was right up there in the red.*

Amid the mess and chaos I kept coming across a little snippet of paper. Time and time again "Isaiah 40: 31" kept getting my attention. It was printed in typewriter font; cut out and I guess I'd used cat eye chalk to outline it. Just one tiny little slip of paper .... that kept re-surfacing and making me "stop." To be totally honest, I couldn't even recall what Isaiah 40:31 was even about? Finally, I surrendered, and went to fetch my bible.... I just had to know what Isaiah 40:31 said:
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount
up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk
and not faint."

My busyness had been taking over. Taking over to the point of "getting to me!" Reading this verse made me realize that I was "missing it." Somehow, and somewhere I'd been losing my focus. Earlier in the day, I'd had a conversation via email with a gal, and recall signing my note back to her with "EAGLE WINGS." (Yes, really.*) -- So I knew that this was no coincidence at all and God was really trying to get me to STOP, refocus and listen.

Just yesterday, I had yet another situation happen. I'd went to Walmart to pick up a few groceries. It was so busy as you can imagine. As I ran up to the door, there was a table on both sides of the doors with very cold ladies stopping people and maybe selling something.? I was in a hurry and brushed past them;....... feeling a little guilty. On my way back out, I put my feet in high gear and dashed out the door. One of the ladies tried to get me to stop and I smiled; gave a nod, and kept going through the hubub of other shoppers. It was then that I heard her say, in a very cheerful voice, "God bless you!!" --And yes, she'd said it to "me."

My feet were still going 90 to nothin, but my heart was doing something else. I made it to my truck, and loaded everything in the cab, while the Lord did His thing on my heart..... "Go back," He said. Give her what's in your pocket." Locking my truck; I dug the money out of my pocket- (it wasn't much... but it was everything I had in my pocket) -- I walked back, making sure I approached the one who'd spoken to me. I was wearing my red wool jacket, and I could tell she remembered me. I walked up to her and stopped, and we just stood there looking at eachother... smiling. I said, "What did you say to me?" She smiled again; as if she understood, then she began telling me that she was there because of what the LORD has done in her life. She had a table set up where she was selling the most wonderful craft things and she stood there right in front of the walmart entrance, boldly telling me how wonderful God is, and that He cleaned her up from being an addict. She told me no program got her clean, but the Lord got her clean. Her testimony was incredible. And as I admired her crafts; one of the verses written on a plaque she'd made, stood out to me. It was:
" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I handed her what God had told me to give her, and pointed to the plaque that God kept stirring up in me as she talked, and I told her to hang onto what Jeremiah said there.* Her eyes lit up like a CHRISTmas tree as if she "understood" again, and she said she would. Then, I went back to my truck for the second time.
This time, I realized that I'd just been blessed with a God encounter, and my busyness almost let me miss something altogether.
Starting now, I'm slowin down. I came too close to missing out on an a God thing, and I was walkin the wilderness just like those Israelites, ...-- and I'd even started doing it again today. No more runnin round like a chicken with my head cut off. If I don't get something done,*.... then I don't get something done. Christmas is so much more than all of that, and it's time for me to slow down and savor it.

Update: written Sunday.
This morning when I woke up, I had this feeling that there is more to all this than I realize.
Maybe in the days to come, more will unfold...? While pondering some of it, I redrafted this post. I don't know why.... -- other than sometimes I start second guessing when I don't fully understand everthing. The funny thing is; meanwhile, I had someone on my heart who used to blog. She closed her blog long ago, but for whatever reason, I found myself typing in her name and visiting that goodbye page that is still out there. To my surprise, beneath her "About me," was thee Isaiah verse! So, I'm republishing this..... and taking to heart these verses.

...............I may be a woman of planning. But His plans are bigger.
His plans.. gives you HOPE.
and a FUTURE.

12 comments:

Denise said...

Amen, bless you sis. I love you.

BECKY said...

Oh Sweetness! Your story is just so precious to me. I adore your transparency and honest heart...just like a tall glass of water in a dry parched land! You just filled my cup up with goodness, and I so wish you lived next door!! I will be praying for what this all means for you and would you pray for me and my upcoming business endeavor? I feel strongly that God is saying, "Just start, Becky" and yet I want to know 100% for sure that everything is just going to fall into place perfectly, FIRST! He's still clearly working on my "perfection issue", and some fear issues.

Lea, you really are such a huge blessing to me. I hope you know that!!

Have a delightful week, sweetness!!
OH!! Your header is just lovely!!
And I'm stealing that Christmas button now that my 'puter is working!!

Love ya girl!
Becky

Yolanda said...

Love how He got your attention and used a very special lady to do so....He does have plans and a purpose, and that includes loving YOU!


Lovingly,
Yolanda

Unknown said...

I know how you feel, we gotta slow down, hard to do sometimes unless you get a poke, like you did, that's awesome!

From the Heart said...

Thank you for being so transparent.
I agree with Becky you are precious and fill our cups up with goodness and kindness.

What a blessing that you obeyed God and went back to visit the lady at Wal-Mart. You never know when there are angels unaware and you are one of them.

Merry CHRISTmas my friend.

PS My gifts aren't wrapped either but I did get my cards done last night with the help of my husband. After all we are in this thing together so I feel it should be shared. For the first time in 47 years he has taken an interest in a lot of things that I usually do myself. Of course I recruited him with the cards and if you want one you've got to send me your address.
Merry CHRISTmas, my sweet friend.

Sue said...

Hello Lea, As always I am so blessed when I visit you. What a very inspiring post today. I too have slowed down and have decided to really enjoy this most blessed season.
Blessings,
Sue

Edie said...

I love you my sweet friend! You have such an incredible heart for God and it SHOWS!

I have seen others selling their crafts in front of Walmart too. I stopped and bought a wooden cross with nails forming another cross over the wooden one. It's on my cross wall. I talked with the guy there and it's a ministry program designed to help addicts. I can't remember the name of it but I was impressed too.

Have a blessed Christmas! Much love to you!

Alleluiabelle said...

Hi Dear Friend,

I love this post. I still have many things to do, but I've learned that we need to slow down, which I have and that it's not about all of our material gifts, it's all about Him. I loved how He directed your path yesterday and today and you heard, obeyed and did exactly what He wanted you to do. That is so beautiful, your spirit is beautiful and He is so AWESOMELY BEAUTIFUL!

Love you,
Alleluiabelle

Chanda said...

Very very nice post Lea, everyone in the world should read this. This time of year is about so much more and for the first time I am settleing in to enjoy it and not stress so much about trying to do it ALL. I have big plans this week, but the first plan is to keep a joyful heart and enjoy all the things I'm doing. Take my time and enjoy instead of rushing through it all in a blur. The last few years I have been so busy that I started just signing our name on the Christmas cards, I know thats no fun to get those like that, but its also nice to be remembered. My list had grew to just so many. I am cutting it down by 3/4 and I am going to actually write a short note to each and only send the ones that matter to my heart.
You are such a good and honest person Lea,I am so glad that blogging has made us friends. God sure knew what he was doing when he made our paths to cross. He knew I needed your reminders of his forgivness and love that I so often forget sometimes. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your family and sending you lots of love and best wishes.
Your friend,
Shanda

Tracy said...

Beautiful, beautiful! What a wonderful encouragement to slow down, and keep my eyes (and more importantly my heart) keenly open for God moments. I'm really trying to slow it down and savor things this year. It's amazing the peace He's given me in areas where I typically obsess at this time of year. I still have my moments though where reminders like this are necessary. Thanks for sharing sweet friend. Much love sent your way this day...

Territory Mom said...

Wow, thank you for sharing. I needed this. Love and Merry Christmas.

irene said...

Lea....the Lord has revealed to you what I was forced to learn a few years back when I was dealing with cancer...slow down, be still, know that I am God, really see & enjoy the important things of this world, and take time to see others through Jesus' eyes. Praise God!! once again girl thank you for the reminder, you are sooooo special to me XXOO