A Little Fishy

Photo by: viergacht@Pixabay

The other morning, I decided to read the last few pages of my book before I delved into my devotions. But when I turned on my Kindle, it started a long series of updates, the first since I bought it two years ago. Go figure.

So, I read my devotions while it updated. They took about the same amount of time as my morning readings and prayers.  

A little fishy, don’t you think?

Another morning this last week, I dared to peek at personal and social messages before I started my devotions. My phone froze when I tried to open the first app, forcing me to restart it. While it rebooted, I read my meditations. Again, it finished about the same time I finished my prayers.

Fishy, indeed.

I woke the next morning with a new idea for my current novel whirling in my mind. While coffee brewed, I turned on my computer. I’d start my devotions right after I got the scene written.

I’m sure you’ve guessed it.

My computer required updates before I could open my Word doc. The little message stated it would take a while, long enough to read my devotions.  

Now that wasn’t just fishy. That was a whale.

I had another incident. I let my blood pressure get too low. Those of you familiar with that feeling, one symptom is irritation at everything. My husband is hard of hearing, and it tries my patience at times. That morning, I snapped at him and stomped around the kitchen.

When I sat down and opened my devotionals, this title slapped me in the face.

Anger: A Tricky Emotion. “The old expression says that we have two ears and one mouth…. we should listen twice as much as we speak.” The reading went on to say we shouldn’t let anger fester. Instead, we need to recognize the emotion and proceed carefully, changing it from destructive action or words into “fuel for transformation, healing, and inspired action.”

Sheesh! Well, God got this wayward Christian’s attention.

Silliness aside, I am honored that God loves me enough to remind me what is important and to chastise me when I fail to live out my faith.  

Thank you, Lord, for guiding, teaching, and loving this flawed human creation of Yours. Amen.

Will I Ever Learn?

The young mother stood beside her cart in the breezeway, texting. Her five year old son stared off into space, his resignation to his mother's addiction obvious.

I nudged Bill. "Isn't that shameful?"

My sweet husband said nothing. Believing he hadn't heard, I shrugged and followed him into the store.

The next morning my devotions included the story of Solomon's idolatry in the last years of his kingship. Listening to the pleas of his pagan wives, he built altars to their gods, and worshiped them. I shook my head. After all God had done for him, how could he do that?

I glanced at the clock. Yikes. I only had a half hour before I needed to shower and leave for work, and  I had 't yet checked my e-mails, logged into Facebook or Twitter, or posted on any of my favorite sites. I'd have just enough time if I hurried a little through the last two readings and skipped my morning coffee with Bill.

As I lifted my Bible to put it away, it fell open to Daniel 14: 42: Then the King said: Let all the inhabitants of the whole earth fear the God of Daniel: for He is the savior, working signs and wonders on earth: who delivered Daniel from the lions' den. 

I swallowed. The scripture cut deep. I had turned my back on the One who has worked signs and wonders in my life, the One who has saved me from the mouths of lions - more than once.  I had replaced Him with other idols, just like Solomon. They might not be made of gold, but I had placed them on an altar and spent most of my time kneeling before them.

It was in the excess I had erred. As with all things, there needed to be a balance, and the scales needed to be tipped toward God and my husband. A little organization and some will power would bring my life back into balance - time limits for the computer,  not for my devotions or my husband.  Oddly, I seem to have lost that sense of urgency I felt upon waking and carried with me all day. In its place is a deep sense of peace and contentment, a joy not rooted in my circumstances or To Do List. Imagaine that.