Outburst 2.....

.… Get ready here it comes. Unrestrained expression of emotion.

I am so blessed to have such solid support and encouragement from SO many people!!!

I left a business today with absolutely no concern about ANYthing, because I have people there who have my back.

I had about a dozen clients who had appointments today who were so willing and eager to change their schedules to accommodate this necessary day off.

I have sales reps who do the leg work for me when I can’t.

It never crossed my mind to wonder if everything was ok. I know they are all capable and dependable. And I know they would turn flips if I asked them to. (…but I don’t !) Some are family by blood, all are family. And they are part of the reason I love my job.

　

　

Today, I ….
drove a brand new vehicle…..

A vehicle with OnStar turn by turn directions to a place I’d never been to before in Dallas …..

I drove straight thru with no missed turns or questions about where the place was located…

to a hospital, that was organized, timely, and informative…..

where we were cared for by a staff of people who were real and treated us like people, not objects…

where within an hour, my husband’s hand was operated on repairing some damaged tendons and ligaments…

We had the benefit of all the current technology to feel connected to all those who love and care for us…

Cell phones and social networks do away with the miles that separated us, we never felt alone or isolated..

Prayer warriors have been on the battlefield all day, praying over us…

Offers from dozens of people to come along with us, or help here at home in any way…

Call after call to Kerry from people who are concerned and want to hear from him that all is well…

Text messages, one after another….some light-hearted, jesting, boosting our spirits and bringing smiles and even a few LOLs (Laugh Out Loud s)

Comments on social networks from friends who have moved away long ago, but are still really connected to us….

God, thank You for the blessings You have shown me thru this trial. You are so good…

Outburst...

…. an unrestrained expression of emotion

I had one yesterday. Unrestrained. THAT is the problem. It’s not the emotion. It’s not the expression OF the emotion. It’s the unrestrained part that causes the problem.

I was reminded this morning that even Moses had one. I daresay I’d have had one waaaay before he did. Forty years is a long time to keep a restraint on emotions. He’d been dealing with this mass of people for a long time, the griping, the quarreling, the blatant disobedience…..the doubting God, the fear of their unknown future.

Moses had been obedient to God. He had followed His instructions, seen God’s miraculous Hand at work in delivering this people…a people designated to be free…a people designated to be the bloodline that would bring freedom to me.

And you if you choose….

I feel for Moses. In a moment of frustration and probably pride, he had an outburst of unrestrained emotion.

　

"Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff….. (Numbers 20:10-11)

Not such a bad thing really. Except it was NOT what God had instructed him to do. And….it might have been a bit of grandstanding on Moses’ part.

I regret my outburst. But I won’t wallow in the guilt. I’ve spoken to God about it, and He says ‘…learn from it and let’s move on…’

At least He didn’t invite me up on a mountain to never come down !!

(…which, by the way, I think was more kindness on God’s part than punishment…..Moses didn’t have to continue to deal with those people anymore. He got to retire ! )

Captive....

 ..taken by force by an enemy…

“…..we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

My thoughts are not always my friend. Often, they assault me. Wrong thinking is an enemy to my spiritual health.

I don’t like some of my thoughts.. But try as I might, I can’t rid myself of them completely.

I can’t will myself to NOT think. My humanity shows itself. At times, it is not pretty. And the devil grabs every opportunity to promote wrong thinking.

Again, I am reminded of the phrases from my brother Paul.

Take captive your thoughts…

Obedient to Christ….

Fight…

Wage war…

Weapons…

Divine power…

　

Obedient…..I do want to be obedient. How thankful I am for His help in doing just that.

So I take up my weapons, the ones He has provided.

I wage war with His divine power.

And I stand. And fight.

Not with another human being, but with sin.

I again ask my Father to give me courage and strength.

I ask for discernment.

I ask that He reveal both my enemy’s lies and His Own truth…that I not be deceived.

I ask that He redirect my thoughts and bring them in line with His will and purpose.

I ask Him to remind me BEFORE I sin, that only His approval is important.

And I repent with Godly sorrow for disobedience already committed, knowing He puts my sin as far as the east is from the west.

"Let him who boasts boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” (2 Cor. 10:17-18)

I want to be approved by Him above all else. Nothing else really matters in the eternal scope of things…..