I Washed My Hands in Dirty Water

Wet grass and dirt stuck to my shoes as I walked the dogs after the rain. I picked up a muddy rock and threw it with all the energy I had into the woods. Frustration had filled my bones. Why again does someone have to judge another? Why do I have to repeatedly hear the garbage and  the fued that travels back and forth between two of my family members? Family Fued. It's isn't a game show. No one wins.

Grrrr, I get so mad. I want to stick my fingers in my ears, stomp my feet and sing like a pouty child,  "I CAN'T HEAR YOU... BLAH... BLAH... BLAH !!!!

Billy Graham, "Anger breeds remorse in the heart, discord in the home and bitterness in the community."

Oh goodness how I was sick and tired of hearing the same garbage over and over and over again. "He said this" She's doing that!" Grrrr. I am not the middle man. That is not my job. Don't put me under these stresses. Can't you let go and let God be about his business?

Wait. I have said those exact words before. Let God be about His business. I think I have washed my hands in dirty water. 

Criswell Freeman, "If your temper gets the best of you ...then others see the worst in you."

God has heard my temper tantrum cries. He has heard me plea to him about fixing situations that I can not fix on my own. I have laid it at His feet, these things over and over and over again. Yet, my shoulders ache with tension because I still can not see the results that I expected, how I expected, when I expected. Did God not hear me the first time? Or was it that I did not trust in Him enough to do His business?

Today I feel like I stubbed my toe on that rock I threw and pain signals rings from the bottom of me to the very top of my head. Or maybe the muddy hands that threw the rock..aimed and threw the rock straight into this thick head of mine.

1 Pet 1:6-7 (Phi) This means tremendous joy to you, even though at present you may be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials. This is no accident--it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than gold, and gold, as you know, even though it is ultimately perishable, must be purified by fire.

I was, more than once, told that I get to choose my battles. I get to decide what gets to me and what does not. Thinking on the family stress situation, I can choose to let God "throw the rocks" or take them in my own hands. Around her sometimes the rocks aren't rocks but boulders. I don't have the strength to pick them up. But I do have the choice to.
  
Today, I will let God be about His business and fix the things I can not fix and count it joy that I can release myself from the trials. 

 

Bubbly, Bubbly, Bubbly.. Bubbling Over.

Mark 8:38 NIV If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His Father's glory with the holy angels.

 The pastor turned to his congregation and picked out a young girl,    "You are so bubbly. You were bubbling in the hall and you are still bubbling here. Bubbly Bubbly Bubbly. You just bubble over with the Holy Spirit. Just keep letting Him flow all over the place. Keep on bubbling. Bubbling, bubbling, bubbling." 



After visiting the service I went out to lunch with my friend. M.J. and I shared of where to Lord was leading us in our lives. I could just reach over an grab everyone of her words and tuck them in my heart. Bible studies. Witnessing. Counseling. Writing. Sharing. Ministries. Obeying. She was calm and excited all in one masterpiece of God. The more she talked the more I could feel the Holy Spirit bubbling all over the place.

There I was sitting across the table of grilled chicken and salads, sweet tea and yeast rolls and there, shown through her, were His "Bubbles" bubbling all over the place.  And there I was feeling like a container of bubbles with my lid being held on so tight, restricted, about to explode in anticipation of releasing those Holy Spirit bubbles. But I kept silent. Muted. 

Like those bubbles, it often takes the willingness of the hands of His people to reach in grab the wand and with intention make bubbles form. The solution is still the solution but the beauty is evident when shared and made known to others.

Are you intentionally sharing the Holy Spirit that is inside of you? Or perhaps have you noticed that you have been keeping the Holy Spirit pridefully and shamefully hidden?

If you have been as I have been, can we pray together today?

Dear Lord, You have said if I am ashamed of You then You will be ashamed of me. The last thing I would ever want is to be shameful in Your sight. Help me to put away my pride and let my outward actions show my inward feelings of You. Let me burst forth and bubble over showing my faith and trust in You. Help me Lord,  to be bubbly with the overflowing of You. Thank you , that we can share in the beauty of Your Holy Spirit openly and that one day, You too will show us to Your Father...with Joy.
May we continue to freely "bubble bubble bubble" with You.

(I found this cute little song.... I hope it brings you to bubble over with Joy too)