Monday, April 19, 2010

Slough Off, ....Cast Off

Greetings and Holykisses,

Do you ever wake up with something on your mind so distinct; that you know it's from God? Words, a dream, a song, maybe a person... ? I keep a notebook by my side of the bed for these situations. -- This morning; two words happened. I hadn't even opened my eyes yet, and I'm not sure now if I saw them, or heard them; but I knew.* I'd seen the word "slough" earlier in the week and brushed it off. Having it "there" at moment of my waking up; I knew it was from God. So I groped for notebook and pen and scribbled them down. Then; forgetting about it, I took a shower and got ready for the day.

Sunday evening, I worked on my garden journal, and knew I'd finish up today so I left my mess on the table. I've been saving used seed packets, and cutting out Garden magazine images, and also scriptures and photos from the magazine "Life Beautiful" that inspire me.
I would call my table a beautiful mess because I was doing something I enjoy; but it was a mess none the less.

When my coffee was ready, I carried my bible to the table and had to clear a spot. It seemed important to be right there in the mess.
I got up to get my notebook, and couldn't even remember what words I'd penned earlier. (That's why I write them down; if I don't I usually forget them. -- Especially dreams!)

Slough off.
What does slough off mean to me?
When I was a kid and we we goofed around; we'd say we were "sloughing off." (sluffing off)
But the words this morning made me think of a snake. I am sorry to say, I have had snake on the brain. You see; I love to walk the pastures. One evening this past week; I walked up on a water moccasin on my way to the pond and it actually struck at me. It scared me so bad and I've not gotten over it. In fact, I've been dealing with a very real fear about them now to the point that it's kept me from doing something I love to do: go walking. And they were now on my mind way to much.

-- Back to slough off. I got my dictionary and looked it up.
slough (sluf) Dead tissue separated and thrown off from the living parts, as in gangrene. The skin of a serpent that has been or is about to be shed. To cast off, as dead from living tissue: with off. To discard; shed, as a habit: with off. To be cast off. To cast off a slough or tissue.

It all started making sense.... I opened my casting box that was already on the table, and took out a few index cards and began writing those things that were causing callouses. ~ Those things that need to be sloughed off ...and cast away. Writing them down; praying.... and acknowledging them in this way was like using a pedi egg on my heart and soul. I also wrote down the fear hindering me: snakes. Card by card, I prayed over each one and gave them to God. "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

I love walking the pastures and pray and usually talk with God while I walk. I even bought an Ipod to have praise n worship while I walk. And it was during that very first walk with the Ipod that the snake struck at me. I was listening to God With Us, by Mercy Me. -- No; the snake didn't bite me... but it was close...-- oh so close, and I have never had a snake actually strike out at me like that from no where. I never even saw it until it struck. It scared me so badly, that I quit my walks. I gave in to fear.

But fear is not from God.
"For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7

I share this, in case someone else is going through something similar. Maybe like me; there are things in your life that need to be sloughed off, and cast away? Maybe your heart needs to be shed of dead issues that continues to build up more and more dead issues causing hardened callouses?

Maybe you're giving in to a fear as I did?
God's Bigger.
Fear is not from Him. He gives us power. He gives us love, and He gives us a sound mind!
The devil comes to try and kill us, he robs us, and tries to destroy us. But he's also a liar!!!!!!!!!!


It was a good day to slough off.
I'm going walking around the pasture now.
I'll be singing God with Us while listening to my Ipod.

"SWEET RELEASE.... from the grip of these chains.
Like hinges straining from the weight, my heart no longer can keep from singing!
All that is within me cries, for you alone be glorified... Immanuel... God with us.
My heart sings a brand new song... the debt is paid these chains are gone, Immanuel God with us." MercyMe

"Therefore if any man be in CHRIST he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

3 comments:

Angela said...

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...this was beautiful. I love my time journalling with the Lord and pouring out my heart to Him....It sure does the heart good doesn't it.

KathyH said...

Lea, I have been having the same fear of snakes you've been having. I have found a wonderful place to hike and I've been taking "Prayer Hikes" two days a week, and I love, love, love it! But I've always had a snake phobia, and I saw a big one on my path the last time I went. It didn't strike at me (I probably would have died on the spot from sheer panic) but it creeped me out, and now I've been a little afraid to go back. However, when I first began my hikes and was praying about the safety of it, I felt like God gave me assurance with Mark 16:17-18, so I need to be brave and do it. Hey, wanna go on a hike with me some morning? I go about 11:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays. I'd love to show somebody my secret hiking place! I DO have cell phone service, and there's no way anybody could get in there in a vehicle, so it's not a REAL dangerous thing. But I'd like to do some rope-climbing and I don't think I should do it alone in case I break a bone! We should have a HIKING PARTY!!

Barbara Jean said...

Hey girl
Scary, but read the two latest posts and good for you!
Your risked and the Lord blessed you with dragonflies.

Cannot stay long. Neck still giving me fits when on comp.

blessings and smiles

barbara jean