Convenient Isn't Always Better

 

Some modern-day conveniences are wonderful to have around. The ability to keep up with church services via live stream and the chance to stay informed on current events and happenings with my family and friends on Facebook are some that I am most thankful for.

But one thing I have come to realize is:

Convenient isn't always better.

This past week was truly interesting. Our dishwasher had been experiencing technical difficulties and suddenly decided to stop working altogether.

A couple of days went by and my mom's laptop died as well. (So thankful we were able to get her previously purchased new one up and running without much hassle.)

The dishwasher, however, is still out of commission. Mom and I have been washing dishes by hand for a week now, and I really don't mind it.

Mom and I are HUGE coffee drinkers. We would often run out of needed coffee cups or find ourselves without some kitchen utensil we wanted because it was still sitting and waiting to be run through a wash cycle.

It is far too easy to rely on the convenience of this world. Life may appear to be less complicated, but in reality, it will never fail to leave your heart both in need and unsatisfied.

Having to wash everything by hand is certainly a switch. But, we are never in need of a coffee cup now. We haven't searched for a missing kitchen utensil either. That thought brought this familiar passage from Psalm 23 to mind: 

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters."

"He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake".

 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." (Psalm 23:1-5 King James Version)

    The 1828 Webster's Dictionary defines the word want as being destitute or deficient in; not to have. In thinking about that, never being in want doesn't mean that you won't face hard times. Everyone does. It simply means that trusting in the Lord as your shepherd will never leave your heart as unsatisfied. You will always have His sheltering presence to provide comfort in the midst of great tribulation. The Lord is a faithful soldier against enemies, and He will never fail to fight for you each and every single day.

Another benefit that I have discovered from washing dishes by hand is that it soothes my arthritis. Several years of writing have led to spells of aching in my hands, & soaking them in the warm soapy water calms it right down.

That may seem like an interesting thought, but it's a fact that the convenience of this world will never truly ease those deep aches and pains felt throughout life.

The only true remedy is the warmth and love of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3 King James Version) 

My last thought of the day is that those processed dishwasher pods are much too expensive, and not everything comes out perfectly clean when you use them. There's always a spot missed or a piece of something that didn't thoroughly wash away.

We've been using a much cheaper dishwashing liquid & it is so much more thorough!

Everyone wants to be happy. Everyone likes something that makes them feel good. One of the dangers of modern-day religion is that it often promotes a feel-good message, never presenting the truth of the Gospel to so many lost and searching souls who are in need; never once giving an invitation to come to Christ for salvation. The practice of religion may bring you happiness for a while but...

Without salvation, anything else is much too expensive of a price to pay.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23 King James Version) 

True lasting joy comes from Jesus and the power of His saving grace.

And that gift is free.

No one is ever too lost for the Lord to save. 

A life with Him is always better.

                    "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13 King James Version)

Needs of the Heart: Consistency

 

        I feel comfortable describing myself as the single most disorganized person I know. A routine schedule is something I need in order to keep my house consistently clean. 

    My week never runs smoothly if my bed is not made or my floors haven't been swept. Writing sessions in my office end up unproductive if my desk is a mess; my thoughts become cloudy and the messages fail to come together as well as they should.

In a general sense, consistency has never been an easy concept for me. I recently downloaded an app that helps you create a weekly cleaning routine. I clean one room a day. That allows the mess to remain small in size; that not only eliminates the possibility of becoming overwhelmed but also provides an improvement in mental clarity and much-needed encouragement in my day. 

Have you ever heard the phrase: "Consistency is key?" 

We must be consistent in keeping the rooms of our hearts clean in order for us to remain functional in the midst of this lost and dying world, for our minds to stay focused on the truth of His Word, and to always be encouraged through time spent in His presence. 

Allowing our messes to grow directly contributes to chronic dysfunction. The automatic human reaction is to push everything out of sight as life falls deeper into disarray. The smallest of issues will develop into huge problems if they remain ignored for long periods of time. Never be embarrassed to run to Jesus. He is the ultimate provider of peace. 

"The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." (Exodus 14:14 King James Version)

A clean room always helps my thoughts to be healthy and organized. I cannot count the number of times I have struggled to build upon thoughts for a blog post or a story because my office was cluttered.  There have been countless times when I've found myself struggling through the day with the unhealthiness of my thoughts. My mind becomes a clouded place full of frustration. As humans, we sometimes forget how much we need Jesus. All we need to do is trust in the truth of His Word. The King James Bible is the ultimate source of clarity and guidance for each and every day.

"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about the neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:"

"So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man." 

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." 

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:3-6 King James Version)

The task of cleaning one small area at a time encourages my heart to tackle more. I always need a little push to power through the more difficult tasks. Life can be full of moments that overwhelm. We must trust in Christ alone. He is the faithful provider of strength when we need a gentle nudge to keep on moving. His unconditional love and support prove to be the ultimate source of encouragement.

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait I say, on the LORD." (Psalm 27:14 King James Version)

Trust The Pilot

 

     It is never easy to place our trust in someone other than ourselves. Traveling through unknown territory often finds us grasping for answers to those questions that seem to have no reasonable explanation. It is difficult to understand why specific trials come our way. 

    I can remember eagerly climbing onto an airplane for the first time. I took my seat all while having no idea what to expect from a flight. Heavy turbulence made its appearance through connecting flights...but I chose to remain calm and focused as I fully trusted the pilot in command of the plane. I kept my thoughts centered on the final destination to come. Not once did it cross my mind to look out the side window, even during the smooth parts of the flight. 

I always kept my mind on the final destination. 

The most challenging aspect of living in submission to Christ is fully trusting Him with every part of our lives. We never know what lies ahead. It is natural to grab onto our limited wisdom as part of a desperate search for answers. So many moments show us that life isn't fair while that big mountain seems impossible to move. 

The turbulence of life can seem overwhelming.

You just need to take it one day at a time. One step at a time. Don't allow your thoughts to drift away from Jesus. Keep your eyes upon Him.

Focus on His goodness. His mercy. His grace...

Through the worst of moments...God has you right in the palm of His hand.  

And even on those good days...always remember to keep trusting in Him as your pilot.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26:3 KJV)

The Time to Be Ready (Heart Preparedness for The Coming of Christ)

 

    Being given the opportunity to experience travel by flight is honestly a cherishable memory within my heart. There's no other emotion comparable to my excitement on that first-ever flight. The surge of nervous adrenaline was already present during the previous evening...as I ran through a checklist of essential items needed for the journey...and eagerly searched for information on what to bring along in a carry-on bag. 

    That task alone was overwhelming...but I was thankful to have an experienced travel buddy who not only reminded me of all the little things I would have probably forgotten...but also gave me a sense of much-needed calmness. The time to be ready to leave for the airport would soon be upon us, and in remembering that time, I just know in my heart I felt relieved to be prepared...or perhaps, over-prepared! 

*One old, but wise rule of thumb: One can never be too prepared for anything!*

    In bringing a message this week on the blog, this memory has been on my mind for several weeks now as one to share...but the time to be ready for Jesus to come back is now. It is important for me to share some tips on how to be ready for Jesus. 

Would you be prepared to take that flight? Do you have your eternal boarding pass? And what can you carry on with you to eternity?

One cannot even have their baggage checked or approach the gate without first acquiring a ticket and a boarding pass. You cannot reach Heaven without first acknowledging your sin and realizing your need for salvation. No good deeds or any degree of morality will secure a seat on the plane of eternal life; salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. 

The process of having your baggage checked is the single most challenging aspect of air travel. The agents first weigh the luggage...and if you are shown to be over the weight limit...they won't send the luggage on through to the next destination without removing the excess. Meanwhile, your carry-on bag stays with you at all times. 

    I borrowed an old carry-on bag from my mother for the trip to Spokane, Washington. It had a few bits of wrappers and trash in it from our trips to NYC in previous years. I cleaned out every tiny compartment before I began filling it with my essentials. 

Your eternal carry-on bag is what can be found within your heart. The first task you have is to bring it to the ultimate state of preparedness. As previously mentioned...you must see your heart's need for salvation. 

Perhaps the most essential point of preparedness is to ask the Lord to cleanse your heart of any dirt or dust that may be stuck within those tiny crevices that are somehow unforeseeable to the naked eye. Allow Him to reveal to you any unhealthy behaviors and mindsets. Allow Him to search your heart and examine it to the fullest extent. Remember, carry only the essentials: 

    The truth of His Word: unfailing and infallible...The Word of God remains resourceful throughout each season of life...No matter what you face...His Word will provide your heart with the guidance it so desperately needs.

    "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me." (Psalm 119:133) 

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)

                    

    Joyfulness: One simple word that holds so much importance. No matter what life throws your way...always hold onto your joy. Choose joy every single day. There are moments that won't leave any room for understanding...but it is important to lean on His understanding with the fullness of joy. 

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11)

Prayerful Patience: I am not skilled at being patient, and I will openly admit that! The combination of longing for my eternal home coupled with the excitement of meeting my Savior has me just plain over all of the nonsense that is going on in this world. This lack of patience is nothing new: as a small child, I loved school and would need a Benadryl to help me sleep on the night before the first day of the year because the excitement and anticipation would have kept me up all night long! 

It is difficult to just pray and wait while living our normal day-to-day lives when everything about this world is abnormal. However, patience is a powerfully essential life skill. It can take you through even the worst of frustrations. 

"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;" (Romans 12:12)

Now is the time for your heart to be ready for Jesus. Would yours be prepared for eternity?