Yesterday, I wrote in my journal about the scripture Luke 24:49. It reads, "What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high." Jesus is referring to the Holy Spirit, the same spirit He gives to us when we turn to Him for forgiveness. The study bible I consult added: Jesus loves us and promises to be with us always. We can get to know him better by studying the Scriptures, praying and allowing the Holy Spirit to make us more like Jesus." Allowing the Holy Spirit....... Have I been keeping away the Holy Spirit, somehow?
What can I do? What am I going to do about this? While I wonder, Jesus is waiting!
If I am to work in the world to bring Christ to the world, I must start right where I am. I must go to Jesus and admit my laxness regarding changing those things which are thoughtless and hurtful to others.
Well, I guess there's no time like the present to begin. This morning a very little incident happened which gave me a great big push toward seeing myself with reality. My sweet husband, Jerry, these days now seeing a slight failure in his reasoning processes, wondered what had happened to a plastic bag in which he had wrapped some cooked chicken. I couldn't remember doing anything with it, but I asked him, "Why do you need it? Don't you already have one plastic bag that the chicken is in?"
He answered, "Yes, but I had it in two bags."
My compassion slipped as his thinking slid. Finally, He begged me for compassion, because he had no control over where his thinking might end up.
Although I am greatly saddened by the aging process that each of us will go through, being sad doesn't help matters one bit. I need God! And I need Him to help me reach down to the tip of my toes and up to the last wisp of hair on my head to love, love, love! My sweet man isn't trying to annoy me! He's probably scared by what his brain is doing, coming up with strange requirements for him.
Lord Jesus, I need you! I need your love! I trust your Holy Spirit to come into me with a sweet violence! Knock my socks off, if you will! Help me see, and hear, and feel anything and everything that is needed to love my Jerry with your compassion, your Spirit.
I thank you in expectancy! I am watching for you to appear in unlikely places, and I welcome you wherever you may desire to come! Change is good. Change is wonderful. I accept it whenever you choose! I am humbled by my need, yet grateful for your attention.
Knowing it is never too late for God to work,
I am His forever.
Jo, chastened in MN
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