Wednesday

On this Wednesday of what seems to be the longest week in history, it's no coincidence that I opened my Bible for devotions, this morning, to "Full Loads, Empty Pockets" by Alma Barkman. Passage for the day is Ecclesiastes 9:7-10. Ms. Alma writes about laundry day in her house and all the treasures she finds in pockets as she prepares clothing for the washer. As she does, she reflects on her childhood when they had to melt snow in a copper boiler on top of the old wood stove in order to wash clothes.

The main theme of this story is not how to wash clothes in snow or dry them in the dead of winter. Actually, it's more about that evil, wicked thing we deal with on a daily basis S~T~R~E~S~S!!! This devotional also references these two passages:

2 Peter 1:5-8 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)

Psalm 55:12-19 If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God. Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the grave, for evil finds lodging among them. But I call to God, and the Lord save me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. God, who is enthroned forever, will hear them and afflict them--Selah. (NIV)

Now, I tell you. I was pretty encouraged when I read 2 Peter 5 because it was a reminder to keep my focus on God and all these things I could add to my mental filing cabinet and life would be so much better. When I read Psalm 55, though, I was taken aback...it talks about a man, a friend, attacking David and how it would be so much easier if it were an enemy attacking him...for some reason, actually probably the exact message God wanted me to hear...I realized I am my worst enemy...I have been trying for, well, all my life, but diligently since last summer to lose weight. For many reasons, but one of them being that I hate taking medication and if I lose enough weight I could stop taking the meds that have been added to our medicine cabinet in the last year...well, I might as well be climbing Pikes Peak! At first, it was easy...God removed my incessant cravings for chocolate and I measured and weighed every morsel before I put it on my plate...I had lost 20 pounds. My daily glucose numbers were good, but at my check-up, my average was up...what?!?! I couldn't believe it! Well, I lost stamina because I worked really hard and the enemy was still winning...then the holidays came...I love to bake...that's all I'm going to say about that, except that by my February check-up I had gained back 10 pounds...UGH!!!!! Since then, I have struggled. Lost a pound, gained 2, lost three, gained 1...I think this is where I get my true dislike of roller coasters...my whole life has been one giant, long roller coaster ride...I WANT OFF!!!!!!!!!!!

So today, I pray, for myself and those of you who have been riding that same roller coaster with me that right here, right now, as I write this, as you read this that God will stop that roller coaster and allow us to step off. That He will give us the discernment to listen and hear His still, small voice and more importantly, that we will head His guidance and allow Him to guide us through our journey to a healthier and happier life.

I hope you all have a blessed day!