Have you seen the Expedia.com commercials where the little yellow suitcase pops up with vacation spots and prices on it? I have one of those suitcases (as mentioned in a previous blog: You Talking to Me) that keeps popping up. I keep telling myself the contents look much better inside that little suitcase then spued all over the road, but today I came to the reality that sometimes we need to unpack the suitcase.
Our weekly worship time at CVC is incredible. No matter how planned or how spontaneous, God speaks and uses the opportunity to stir in my heart. This week felt a bit more spontaneous, but no matter how unplanned- God had it ALL planned out. One of our Youth Leaders was asked to lead us in worship, which was awesome- one of my favorite songs, Give Us Clean Hands; but what she shared dropped that little yellow suitcase almost in my lap. She read from Ecclesiastes. I've posted one of the passages on my blog, Ecc. 10:8-10. That was the beginning of God moving in my heart...
I've carried this suitcase with me since I was young. I've set it out and stood to open it on occasion, and may have peeked inside once or twice only to sit on it, slam it shut, and stuff everything back inside before anyone else could see. People have asked about my suitcase, not knowing what's inside, and I've managed to convince them it's just an attractive accessory that I want to carry around with me everywhere. I've stuffed it deep in my closet, left it out in the rain, but it always pops back up... (Can't you hear the song: Expedia...dot com...) It's sorta' like that for me.
The verses in Ecclesiastes convicted me that I'm AFRAID to dig a pit, or break through a wall, or quarry stones, or split logs... I'm AFRAID that I may fall in, find a snake, get injured, or become endangered. I'm AFRAID to admit my ax may be dull and AFRAID my srength or skill won't be enough to bring success. But our God is NOT a God of fear... 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." Being AFRAID is not of God. Secondly, my strength and skills are NOT enough. Philippians 4:13 reminds us, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." And in chapter 2 verse 13 it says, "...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."
So the question came up today- what's holding me back; what's holding any of us back? Why the packed little yellow suitcase? Is it fear? A fear of what? When I look to His word, I see no justifiable reason to fear. I need to dig the pit, break some walls, quarry some stones, and maybe even split some logs... And I may fall in, get bitten by a snake, be injured or endangered. And my ax is probably dull and unsharpened meaning I need more strength...but skill will bring success. What skill, you ask? The skill I have to turn to God, to trust Him, to fall and let Him pick me up...to get bitten or injured and let Him heal my wounds. Not stuff them in a little yellow suitcase and carry it around, hiding what's inside and denying Him the opportunity to take the contents- He already knows what they are anyway- and to truly work in my life.
I've packed the suitcase again, nice and neat. I've picked it up...but this time I'm taking steps to empty it... To open it up and let Him see what he already knows is there, to let Him unpack it, to let Him heal the hurts and pull me out of the pit I've fallen into. I think it's time for a vacation... Expedia...dot com... (But maybe I can have a pink suitcase!)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The little yellow suitcase...
Have you seen the Expedia.com commercials where the little yellow suitcase pops up with vacation spots and prices on it? I have one of those suitcases (as mentioned in a previous blog: You Talking to Me) that keeps popping up. I keep telling myself the contents look much better inside that little suitcase then spued all over the road, but today I came to the reality that sometimes we need to unpack the suitcase.
Our weekly worship time at CVC is incredible. No matter how planned or how spontaneous, God speaks and uses the opportunity to stir in my heart. This week felt a bit more spontaneous, but no matter how unplanned- God had it ALL planned out. One of our Youth Leaders was asked to lead us in worship, which was awesome- one of my favorite songs, Give Us Clean Hands; but what she shared dropped that little yellow suitcase almost in my lap. She read from Ecclesiastes. I've posted one of the passages on my blog, Ecc. 10:8-10. That was the beginning of God moving in my heart...
I've carried this suitcase with me since I was young. I've set it out and stood to open it on occasion, and may have peeked inside once or twice only to sit on it, slam it shut, and stuff everything back inside before anyone else could see. People have asked about my suitcase, not knowing what's inside, and I've managed to convince them it's just an attractive accessory that I want to carry around with me everywhere. I've stuffed it deep in my closet, left it out in the rain, but it always pops back up... (Can't you hear the song: Expedia...dot com...) It's sorta' like that for me.
The verses in Ecclesiastes convicted me that I'm AFRAID to dig a pit, or break through a wall, or quarry stones, or split logs... I'm AFRAID that I may fall in, find a snake, get injured, or become endangered. I'm AFRAID to admit my ax may be dull and AFRAID my srength or skill won't be enough to bring success. But our God is NOT a God of fear... 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." Being AFRAID is not of God. Secondly, my strength and skills are NOT enough. Philippians 4:13 reminds us, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." And in chapter 2 verse 13 it says, "...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."
So the question came up today- what's holding me back; what's holding any of us back? Why the packed little yellow suitcase? Is it fear? A fear of what? When I look to His word, I see no justifiable reason to fear. I need to dig the pit, break some walls, quarry some stones, and maybe even split some logs... And I may fall in, get bitten by a snake, be injured or endangered. And my ax is probably dull and unsharpened meaning I need more strength...but skill will bring success. What skill, you ask? The skill I have to turn to God, to trust Him, to fall and let Him pick me up...to get bitten or injured and let Him heal my wounds. Not stuff them in a little yellow suitcase and carry it around, hiding what's inside and denying Him the opportunity to take the contents- He already knows what they are anyway- and to truly work in my life.
I've packed the suitcase again, nice and neat. I've picked it up...but this time I'm taking steps to empty it... To open it up and let Him see what he already knows is there, to let Him unpack it, to let Him heal the hurts and pull me out of the pit I've fallen into. I think it's time for a vacation... Expedia...dot com... (But maybe I can have a pink suitcase!)
Our weekly worship time at CVC is incredible. No matter how planned or how spontaneous, God speaks and uses the opportunity to stir in my heart. This week felt a bit more spontaneous, but no matter how unplanned- God had it ALL planned out. One of our Youth Leaders was asked to lead us in worship, which was awesome- one of my favorite songs, Give Us Clean Hands; but what she shared dropped that little yellow suitcase almost in my lap. She read from Ecclesiastes. I've posted one of the passages on my blog, Ecc. 10:8-10. That was the beginning of God moving in my heart...
I've carried this suitcase with me since I was young. I've set it out and stood to open it on occasion, and may have peeked inside once or twice only to sit on it, slam it shut, and stuff everything back inside before anyone else could see. People have asked about my suitcase, not knowing what's inside, and I've managed to convince them it's just an attractive accessory that I want to carry around with me everywhere. I've stuffed it deep in my closet, left it out in the rain, but it always pops back up... (Can't you hear the song: Expedia...dot com...) It's sorta' like that for me.
The verses in Ecclesiastes convicted me that I'm AFRAID to dig a pit, or break through a wall, or quarry stones, or split logs... I'm AFRAID that I may fall in, find a snake, get injured, or become endangered. I'm AFRAID to admit my ax may be dull and AFRAID my srength or skill won't be enough to bring success. But our God is NOT a God of fear... 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." Being AFRAID is not of God. Secondly, my strength and skills are NOT enough. Philippians 4:13 reminds us, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." And in chapter 2 verse 13 it says, "...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."
So the question came up today- what's holding me back; what's holding any of us back? Why the packed little yellow suitcase? Is it fear? A fear of what? When I look to His word, I see no justifiable reason to fear. I need to dig the pit, break some walls, quarry some stones, and maybe even split some logs... And I may fall in, get bitten by a snake, be injured or endangered. And my ax is probably dull and unsharpened meaning I need more strength...but skill will bring success. What skill, you ask? The skill I have to turn to God, to trust Him, to fall and let Him pick me up...to get bitten or injured and let Him heal my wounds. Not stuff them in a little yellow suitcase and carry it around, hiding what's inside and denying Him the opportunity to take the contents- He already knows what they are anyway- and to truly work in my life.
I've packed the suitcase again, nice and neat. I've picked it up...but this time I'm taking steps to empty it... To open it up and let Him see what he already knows is there, to let Him unpack it, to let Him heal the hurts and pull me out of the pit I've fallen into. I think it's time for a vacation... Expedia...dot com... (But maybe I can have a pink suitcase!)
2 comments on "The little yellow suitcase..."
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For your sake, you better choose the pink suitcase. The Yellow one might scam you. Source: http://www.victimsofexpedia.com
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You're not alone my friend! :) Back in October or November Kirsten spoke on "left overs" - I've got a carton of stinky left overs in the back of my fridge (or frig) - and I've come to a point where I've realized it's time to tackle it... I've just been too afraid to do so - but lately God's been putting it on my heart... All this to say, if you need someone to walk along side you as you unpack - let me know... I know it's a tough journey but know you're not alone - it's one we must all travel! - TS
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2 comments:
For your sake, you better choose the pink suitcase. The Yellow one might scam you. Source: http://www.victimsofexpedia.com
You're not alone my friend! :) Back in October or November Kirsten spoke on "left overs" - I've got a carton of stinky left overs in the back of my fridge (or frig) - and I've come to a point where I've realized it's time to tackle it... I've just been too afraid to do so - but lately God's been putting it on my heart... All this to say, if you need someone to walk along side you as you unpack - let me know... I know it's a tough journey but know you're not alone - it's one we must all travel! - TS
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