Use Your Wings!

Days are busy and summer is NOT a break!

I've fooled myself for many years thinking that summer was a break from the stress and schedule of the school year. But I've come to realize that we just fill the time slots with many other activities. Swimming lessons, music lessons, camps, practices etc.

I'm just as busy now as I was a few months ago. I must say that I prefer this kind of being on the move. I am enjoying every minute of it!

Having three kids means I'm usually dropping off, picking up or trying to coordinate with my husband in making sure we end the day with all three. Seriously!

As I hurried to pick up a kid from another activity, I noticed a bird trying to walk across a busy street. Cars were moving quickly and it stood waiting for the right moment.

Huh?

I thought to myself "Why is the bird walking across the street?"

I shook my head and thought "You can fly! What are you doing?"

I just assumed that it was trying to get to food in the middle of the road. That had to be it. Why would a bird, with the capability of flying over the madness, choose to walk through it?

Immediately, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper "Exactly.Why are you trying to maneuver through situations that you were created to fly over?"

Goodness Gracious!

This one hit me! HARD!

Some struggles are not for me. There are some situations, people, or feelings I should not attempt to engage or entwine.

Am I the only one?

How many of us are hiking through the terrain of unproductive situations, relationships, feelings, debates, and conflict that we are meant to circumnavigate?

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." I Corinthians 15:57

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If  God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Romans 8:37


Why are we developing strategies to march when we have been given wings to soar?


Blessings!



copyright 2015. www.shundriariddick.com All Rights Reserved

A QUICK REMINDER...

With busy lives and even busier minds, sometimes we need a reminder.

We need to know that we are forgiven. Redeemed. We are the loved. 

In the midst of living life, we disappoint, fail and make many mistakes.  When we do, sometimes we forget.

We forget that there is no mistake, disappointment or failure too dreadful that it cannot be forgiven by a loving and merciful God.

So go to Him.

Right now.

He's there.

Ready to discuss it with you. As you come in truth and humility, He will help you. He isn't surprised nor put off by your sin.

There is NOTHING too hard for Him.

Give it to Him.

He's there.

Ready to cleanse.

Ready to get to the core of your issues.

Ready to restore.

He's there.

He gives grace to humble, so don't show up in pride.

He is close to the contrite heart. So come in your brokenness.

He wants to wipe away your pain.

He wants to wipe away your tears.

He wants to renew your hope.

He wants to give you a new song.

He wants to make you new.

Go.

"God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he is rich in love. He doesn't endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins. As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him."  Psalm 103:8-13 The Message

Blessings!
.


copyright 2015 www.shundriariddick.com All rights reserved.

You Are What You Eat!

I've said it before and I'll say it again I love to eat!

I really do and no parts of me are ashamed of it.

Yes I am an emotional eater because food makes me happy! A warm piece of chocolate cake sitting next to a scoop of vanilla ice cream is a kiss of comfort. A good piece of corn bread positioned next to a heap of mustard greens makes me want to cry OUT! (Don't judge me!)

Because of this love and fascination with food, I'm always looking for the next great recipe. Something different. Something new. Something that will make my family want to rise up and call me "Blessed!"

My poor family. They never really know what they will see when they park themselves at the dinner table. It's a good thing. It keeps them on their toes. It broadens their limited palates. It makes them very nervous.

My 14 year old son will eat anything that isn't nailed down to the table. He eats all day. Everyday. It's like a sport. He will eat bean and cheese burritos everyday if I would let him. My 13 year old daughter doesn't like sauces or condiments. But she eats spaghetti. She eats her veggies but not salads because she cannot have a wet salad dressing on it. But she loves barbecue with sauce. My 8 year old says vegetables destroy his taste buds. So it takes him an hour to eat 3 bites of peas. My husband eats whatever I cook. Not picky. He just wants a good home cooked meal

Needless to say, none of these desires and limitations interfere with my creativity. I'm so serious. I have five people to feed and I don't have time to make sure I cover every one's preferences. Whatever I cook is what's for dinner. I'm that mom.  If you don't like it tonight, hold on! You may get lucky tomorrow night.

So this week was no different.  As I served them, I saw that they were eating food that at one time they were utterly unyielding over and declaring that they would detest it. They were devouring food that made them dry heave when told to take at least ONE trial bite.

This made me understand that as a parent I give them their food preferences. I set their palates. I teach them what's healthy. I train them to choose options that they will glean the benefits and not have to repair the damage because of them.

It  made me think of what I feed myself?

Then I wondered...

In what other areas of their lives am I feeding?  What are their desires in music? Clothing? Education? Entertainment?

What are mine?

What do they desire spiritually? Do they have a palate for the things of Christ? Or have I not demonstrated or fed them enough in this area for them to even have a taste for Him?

Do I have a taste for Him?

Am I feeding them things that will give them life regardless of their preferences? Or am I serving according to their short lived feelings which results in a life of entitlement and self indulgence?

What am I feeding myself? Are my preferences His or mine? Does my life portray my choices? Does what others see in my behavior and choices represent what I say? Or does it contradict?

So...

I have to be up for the challenge of resistance. My kids nor I will always want to sit and read God's Word.

But we must.

There may be attempts to stray from modesty in clothing and behavior.

But we can't.

We may listen and then dismiss when we hear about what the Bible teaches us about love, serving others and sharing Christ.

But there is no alternative.

I have to keep molding, feeding and establishing their appetites and mine because the world is preparing a feast for us daily. A spread that will only give us an initial sense of fulfillment but leave us with a longing and emptiness that can never be fully satisfied.


Bon Appetit!


Blessings!


copyright 2015 www.shundriariddick.com All rights reserved.