After a loud yell of frustration, my sister walked into my room and saw the mountain of clothes, shoes, and books which accumulated in my tirade. Her eyebrow raised, needing explanation as to why it looked like Hurricane Katrina had blown through my room. Look, I'm stressed out, okay? I'm late, I have a very important meeting this afternoon and I have nothing to wear. Nothing! To! Wear! It's a major Clothes Crisis!
She knows my antics and without saying a word, she pulled a teal cardigan from my clothes, grabbed a thin belt to wrap around my waist, changed my jewelry and with that I was ready for work. It was like Bippity Boppity Boo! [Minus the fairy godmother.]
Because I'm an emotional basket-case when I'm stressed, I gave her a hug and let out a squeal. She was not empathetic to my "Clothes Crisis" so she simply tapped my back as I squeezed her and told me I was late for work. Wait, I said. I have to make my bed! Dumbfounded and frustrated, she asked why I was making my bed rather than fighting traffic. Oh that's simple, Alex. A clean, well-made bed is my comfort. When everything is life, work, or my room is a mess, I always have my bed to look to as peace and solidarity. It's my symbol. I looked for the brass band to enter my room as I sang a Cabaret life lesson to my sister. She picked up her coffee and left the room mumbling words under her breath.
But I'm not the only one who needs reminders of peace. In Genesis 9 God reiterated the word covenant seven times in nine scriptures. The biblical word covenant means promise from God. God told Noah he would remember His covenant symbol (a rainbow) was a reminder to all living creatures on earth (9:17). Till this day, I remember God's promise to humanity when I see a rainbow.
When everything in life is chaotic, ugly, depressing, and messy, what do you hold on to? What are your reminders? If we don't have reference points (promises and covenants), we can get lost in the mess and forget the promises God has given us. Hold on to what the psalmist says, The promises of the Lord are pure, like silver refined in a furnace and purified seven times... God's way is perfect! The promise of the Lord has proved to be true. (Psalm 12:6; 18:30)
31 comments:
I'm ready to make Monday a great day, in the name of Jesus.
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1717
such a beautiful post!!!
Isn't so awesome that God never breaks His promises? That He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow...we can always count on Him...no matter how messed up we are:)
Its simple, you look back and remember everything the Lord has brought you through and know when life does get chaotic He will do it again!!
I feel so much better when my bed is made too! Even if everything else is a mess! Hope you made it to work on time :)
I have peace (ofcourse in God's word and His presence) but when I am stressed I go to a store and walk around. That destresses me. Gosh! I am such a shopaholic.
@1717: yay!! I love that you still visit here :) Make it a great day ;)
@Tish: thanks so much!
@Christy: No matter how messed we are. Word!
@Angie: Happy new year to you and your family :)
@Diandra: Yay for clean beds! Let's get together asap.
@Raqi: Ohmyword. I can't walk around and shop. It stresses me out because I want to buy stuff?! Do yo' thang!!
this is SO good! my "Jesus chair"...I was going through a REALLY tough time in my life. My fiance just broke off the engagement and I became so emotionally broken that I had gotten sick and couldn't eat anything. I lost ALOT of weight...it wasn't a good thing at all. I remember locking myself in my room and ready Psalms...JUST the Psalms. I could TOTALLY relate to Dave at those times where he felt COMPLETELY ALONE and at the end of his rope. But he always followed up with "the Lord is with me" or something like that. I continued to read and started believing it. I became SO close to God. It was flippin' awesome!!! So I was at this antique store and I saw a chair that I fell in love with. I didn't have the money for it but I said to myself and God, "Lord, I really like that chair...I know you could give it to me." Now, I was thinking he would give me the moolah to buy it or something. So, fast forward...I had a conversation with my ex after a bible study that left my heart broken again. I could barely drive home due to not being able to see through the tears. I remembered David and encouraged myself that God was with me...HE was in control. Then my heart was happy and I was praising God for his faithfulness...as I pulled into my driveway...you're not gonna believe this...my chair was sitting there. YES!!! The chair I believed for!!! It was like God was telling me, "I am listening Ali...I love you." Oh Gosh now I'm cryin' thinking about it. Anyway, I don't know how in the heck it got in my drive way...because I don't know how anyone could have heard me at the antique store or how they would have been able to find out where I lived. BUT there it was. It's my chair from Jesus. And it's where I do my devotions...it reminds me of God's faithfulness and how I am never alone. Sorry for the novel but I thought that may encourage someone :)
whoops...there's a typo up there...I was reading psalms...not ready hahaha...I'm crazy insecure about typos...thanks Mom ;) (my sis and I call her "The Typo Captian" because she's always commenting on our blogs and facebook statuses the typos we have made)
I just read that in Genesis in my One Year Bible, and was encouraged by how God keeps his promises :)
Thanks <3
That's AMAZING Ali! I LOVE it! Thanks for sharing that! ;) Our God loves us so much!
Great post as always B! =)
Yes Ali...that is awesome!!!! God cares about our little things that seem insignificant and our big things!!!! He is so AWESOME!!
ok, i accidentally posted with my husbands email...
christy
Ali- your story is amazing!
Bianca- I HAVE to make my bed too! It can make the whole room look clean :) Loved this post- thank you.
I just remember this phrase....
"If God brings us to it, He and He alone will get us through it"
B. Ive got u on the bed makin thing. I am also obsessive about the bathroom n kitchen.
Where do i go....the beach with my Bible.
Love the post. A car ride + my ipod = my symbol.
p.s...sooooo DID you make your bed that morning?! haha.
My reminder is a verse God showed me when my husband and I were seperated and divorce looked like the only option. It was Gen. 18:14 "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" I could almost hear God laughing....my marriage problems were nothing for God to handle:) Not only did we get back together and renew our vows, I'm simply reminded of this verse no matter what life throws our way. God can handle it. He's a good papa:)
I probably could have wrote this myself. Hah! Too funny. I relate SO much to the bed making thing. And I am an emotional basket case too.
B and Ali...thanks...Needed this post.
thank you Bi!! Believing God's promises really help our outlook on life!!
I too need our bed made!! If its not, I don't feel right all day!! :)
@ali: what an amazing story!!!!!! but wait, did you marry your ex? you left me hanging! do you know who sent you the chair? i'm dying here!
@the montgomery's: i'm reading the one-year too!!! i was going to blog something else until i read that. wasnt' it awesome?!
@jewels: i loved ali's story too. hope you had a great new years. are you going to south africa?
@"ralph": you made me laugh!
@staci: welcome to the comments section!!! i love when people post their opinions and insights. thanks for stopping by :)
@evie: welcome to the comments! i love your story!!! it's like a disney movie... but adult version. it all ended happily ever after ;) GOD IS GOOD.
@jamie: when you visit LA, you're gonna see what HOT MESSES we are. two peas in a pod...
@imperfect: thanks for your comments. i love reading what people think. one day your identity will be revealed ;) LOL. until then, i'm going to call you Miss Perfect :)
@not-so-anonymous: i miss you and the hubby. i have TONS of stories for you on wednesday!!!
After reading this all i could think about is when I would go to camp and Bianca would spread out her bed and no one i repeat NO ONE can jump, sit, touch or even look at Bianca's bed before she gave you the "stink eye." Bianca I understand your funny ways. I too make up my bed, I may look like i just got out of it but its clean and made.
-RoxanaO.
@roxy: Hahahahahahhahahahahahaahhahahahaha! You just put me on blast!!!! I'm so embarrassed you remember me for being a bed-making Nazi. Hahahahahahahahahahaha! I miss youth ministry... but I miss you more! Let's go to Round Table Pizza and eat a million cheese bread sticks :) My office is always open...
oh my WORD I never did wrap up what happened did I??? Geeez! So, YES! I did marry the "ex" (okay...now don't everybody go beatin' up Dave now hahaha - he knows he was a fool for breakin' up with me). That is a whole 'nother mini sermon about God's perfect timing ;) And I still have NO definite answer to how "my chair" ended up in my driveway. Seriously...I have racked my brain trying to figure it out and the only thing I can think of is that maybe my friend who co-owned the store, and also is a Christ Follower, maybe had it on her heart to give it to me? She wasn't even there when I had dropped by the store but wouldn't it be so cool if God had told her to give it to me??? I never thought to ask her, I was just super blessed to have it :)
I hate to say this b/c I hated it when people said it to me...but just wait till you have kids. There will be someone crying, needing something to eat, have a wet diaper, can't find something, etc etc etc...and I will just want to quickly put the dishes away and wipe up the counter. I HAVE to have a clean kitchen (which has gotten significantly harder as the years and people continue to multiply). I just really want to start out the day clean...yes, it gets messy...but clean start means I actually accomplished something today! I know all those older moms are saying...the dishes will always be there but your kids won't. I agree. But at least while the kids are with me they'll have a clean kitchen! Ha ha ha!
Ali's story is amazing!
However, I have to comment on the bed making thing. That is my ONE place of order too. IF for some reason it doesn't get made first thing in the AM I feel all out of whack ALL day.
I've been known to make my bed at 8pm because the thought of laying down to sleep in an unmade bed causes me stress. ;)
hahaha!! I'm so with you on this! :)
wow Ali... awesome! Wow. God is so good!
B: I'm an idiot. Took me like 15 minutes to figure out why I haven't been able to comment (moderating through word verification?!). Totally just had a "duh!" moment. Do what you gotta do ;) as long as what you do includes keeping the blog posts coming; bless me you have.
Ali: Wow. You have no idea how the Lord just blew me away through your story, thank you so much for sharing. I'll refrain from posting a novel myself, but please know that reading your comments have helped put my heart a little more at ease. From the bottom of a hurting heart, THANK YOU.
@B: I didn't even realized Ali left us hanging. I presumed she didn't marry her ex. Thanks for asking, because I'm thrilled to hear that they did get married!!
About South Africa, I'm possibly going to the dinner they are having at CC First Love to hear more about what the Lord is doing there. The Lord hasn't revealed to me yet if He's sending me to South Africa, but He sure is giving me a heart for it! I never even gave the country a second thought. But then my very good friend went on a Mission trip this year and last. Then I saw the movie Invictus and it was fabulous! LOVED IT! So who knows what the Lord has, but Calvary Chapel Downey's Mission's Kick Off is THIS Saturday, January 9th from 9am-12pm! While I go to CCCH, CCD was the first church I went to after I got saved and I've only ever been on mission trips with them. ;)
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