"The Hurried Life"

So you may have noticed that I haven't written the blog in quite some time.  The reason being is I have misplaced my glasses.... er scratch that, the reason being is because while HE has been trying to teach me this concept for the past week, I have been way too busy focusing on living "The Hurried Life."  

I only just realized this after thinking about the message at church yesterday.  Our Pastor was talking about its okay to live a busy life, doing the things that HIS HOLY SPIRIT is leading you to do.  As long as you have a balance of sitting at HIS feet for HIS teachings, and then doing HIS good works.  That is a busy life.  However, when he spoke about living "The Hurried Life," I cringed and began to sink further into my chair, as I knew that HE was speaking to me, and  HIS message was coming in loud and clear!

So I guess I should share what happened last week  Currently D and I are searching for a new home for our family of seven, as we feel as though we need to be closer to our church.  As of right now we live almost 45 minutes away on a weeknight, and 30 minutes on Sundays.  This isn't a problem on Sundays, but weeknights for our teens to go to youth group, and for my women's bible study on Monday nights this poses a HUGE challenge for us.  Most weeks we don't make it to our groups, as traffic is horrendous.  If that weren't enough of a challenge, because of the distance we aren't able to serve in our church, and that is something that we as a family love to do.  

Anyways, back to moving, so naturally in knowing that we are wanting to move, I, Heather, self designated "control freak" decide that I am the only one who can find us the perfect home.  Ehhh, just typing that out makes me sink further into my chair.  In my "control freak" frame of mind, I had this "revelation" one that I felt was of brilliance, and I couldn't wait to share it with D when he got home from work.  

I spent most of the afternoon talking about it, building it up, and getting ready to talk to D about it, by telling my kids all about it.  I spent so much energy focusing on what I "thought" was an amazing plan for our family, and so as soon as D walked in the door I did what any normal rational person would do.  I pounced, and NOT just pounced, rather I came in like a hurricane, and swept him off of his feet.  No sooner did I finish telling him my completely brilliant plan, did I begin to ask him what he thought.  

This makes me laugh now as I know how D is, and I know that he was probably thinking, "are you serious woman?  I've worked all day, had a rough day answering questions and meeting demands, could you give me a minute to get my shoes off, and eat some dinner?"  I can assure you that his pause that day was no laughing matter for me, and instead of be gracious enough to let him process, I began to allow myself to be become upset. (insert irrational thinking followed by completely irrational speaking)

HIS Daily Teachings today is showing me how I have been living "The Hurried Life," and in return I have been missing out HIS wonderful blessings that HE has been wanting to pour over my life, and the lives of whom I encounter.  Today HE has re-introduced me to a book that HE had me start to read last Friday, however in my humanness, in "thinking" that I, Heather knew better what plans I should have for my life, I failed to see that HE was telling me that in choosing to live "The Hurried Life," I have been foolish.

"The feeling of being hurried is not usually the result of living a full life and having no time.  It is, on the contrary, born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life.  When we do not do the one thing we ought to do, we have no time for anything else --  We are the busiest people in the world."  Eric Hoffer

HE is wanting me to know today that I haven't been living my life to the fullest, as I have been wasting time in choosing to live "The Hurried Life."  HE is teaching me that I have been in such a hurry to, hurry up and figure everything out as soon as a problem arises.  HE is telling me that I must NOT allow myself to become to arrogant in "thinking" that what I view as "brilliance" get in the way of what HE is doing in my life, by working in me, and through me.  I must keep myself open to receive HIS Daily Teachings.

HE is letting me know today that the reason why it took me so long to hear HIM this past week, was because I was so focused on living my life according to my own agenda, and thus choosing to live "The Hurried Life."  HE is showing me that had I just chosen to shut my mouth, and be patient for longer than 5 seconds, I would have seen where HE was working in my life in those moments, and I wouldn't have wasted an entire week trying to hurry it all up.  

Today HE is wanting me to know that HE isn't teaching me this to make me feel bad, rather to teach me to depend on HIM.  HE is reminding me that I have been praying for HIM to teach me how to TRUST HIM without borders, therefore I must choose to NOT get all bent out of shape whenever things aren't going according to my brilliant plans.  I must choose to BE STILL, and know that HE IS GOD!  Psalm 46:10

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

"Anxious people are always trying to live ahead of where they currently are."  Joyce Meyer "100 Ways to Simplify Your Life" 

How true these words are for me.  Through HIS loving guidance this morning HE is revealing to me that just because in my past life I didn't know HIM, and I lived a life that at every turn I was being hurt, with HIM through my FAITH I am more than able to TRUST HIM completely that HE has everything worked out for my own good.  HE is showing me that my TRUST issues, are also HEART issues.  HE is teaching me that because I have been so traumatized in the past with people living "The Hurried Life" by choosing to live their lives according to their own agenda's, and in return completely ruining any and all chances of me being able to fully TRUST anyone, including HIM.

This is a tough pill to swallow for me, as I have felt like I do TRUST HIM, when in all actuality HE has been revealing to me for over a year now that I don't fully TRUST HIM.  In seeking what HE has been trying to teach me, its all become almost unbearable to face, as I know I can't do this life without HIM.  I know that I need HIM to be my EVERYTHING in absolutely EVERYTHING in my life!

"They spend today trying to figure out tomorrow and the result is the loss of simplicity."  Joyce Meyer "100 Ways to Simplify Your Life"

Today HE is revealing to me that the description of above describes me to a "T" ..... In knowing this I can now look back on last week and see with HIS vision how I wasted my entire week last week by allowing myself to become anxious, and worried.  HE is letting me know that I was to "busy" living "The Hurried Life," in trying to wrap my little human brain around what I viewed as an enormous problem to overcome.

This morning HE is taking me back to a saying that I read quite some time ago and that is, "Instead of telling GOD how BIG your problems are, tell your problem how BIG your GOD IS!"  HE is taking me back to when I read "The Circle Maker," by Mark Batterson to remind me how I must choose to pray about the things that overwhelm me, and that I in my humanness can't begin to wrap my mind around.

HE is wanting me to know that HE delights in being able to make the impossible, more than possible in my life.  HE is telling me that HE wants me to continue to pray audacious prayers, to pray with HIS true confidence, that HE is fighting on my behalf, for me, and that HE will always make everything come together for my good.   HE is wanting me to know that in everything that I encounter in my HE is showing me just how good HE is, and NOT just good, but GREAT!  HE is telling me that in choosing to pray audacious prayers, that is how I will let go of living "The Hurried Life."  

"GOD expects us to TRUST HIM with tomorrow."  Joyce Meyer "100 Ways to Simplify Your Life"

HE is telling me that in order to let go of living "The Hurried Life,"  I must choose to practice living each moment that I am giving as if though they were my last.  HE is telling me that in order to live the life that HE has planned for me I must choose to embrace each moment, and TRUST HIM that even though I may NOT be able to figure things out, I can rest in HIM that HE surely does.  This is why I know that HE is always telling me "TRUST in ME, REST in ME"  

HE is wanting me to know that in order to do what HE is telling me, I must choose to give all of my thoughts, my words, and my actions.  HE is telling me that I must give HIM all of  me and be ready for HIM to teach, lead, and guide me every single step of my journey towards wholeness with HIM.

HE is telling me that instead of living "The Hurried Life," where I tear through this life that I have been blessed with at break-neck speed, I must choose to give myself fully to HIM, so that I will then be a part of HIS blessings that HE is waiting to pour over my life, and the lives that HE is using me as HIS living vessel to reach through my hott mess, which is HIS beautiful message of HOPE, to show those who are hurting that HE is there, HE is good, and HE is waiting for them, to help them, and to guide them on their journey towards wholeness with HIM.

Today is the start of the next chapter of my journey with HIM with HIM teaching me how to TRUST Without Borders, where I know that HE is always working on my behalf, and HE is always making everything come together for my good.  Today I am saying goodbye to living "The Hurried Life," by choosing to live "The Trust Without Borders Life."  

Dear Friends, I pray today that you will be able to view  my story, as an encouragement that HE is there, and HE is always working behind the scenes.  I pray that you will be able to give your all to HIM, to know and to TRUST HIM that HIS plans for your life are amazing.  I pray today that you too will have the courage to say goodbye to living "The Hurried Life," and that you will be able to start living "The TRUST Without Borders Life."  I pray that when you do you will then be able to see and be a part of HIS wonderful blessings that HE is waiting to pour over your life, and the lives of whom you encounter.

With much prayers, understanding, love, and blessings,
Heather