Electric Blanket. I love you.
Why didn't we buy an electric blanket years ago?For our 13 years of marriage, we've piled on blankets and comforters (Aussie: doonas) to combat not heating the room. Some nights it took hours to warm up. Toes icy. Literally shivering from the cold. No exaggeration.This year we thought to try an electric blanket. It's INCREDIBLE. Every night we talk about how amazing it is and shake our heads about the years we spent without it. So stupid. So very stupid.We inflicted ourselves with discomfort and, sometimes, sickness all because we didn't take advantage of the amazing invention of the electric blanket.So stupid. So juvenile. So pathetic.That's truly how I feel about it. I want to scream at my past-self: "BUY A BLANKET! DON'T BE SUCH AN IDIOT!"Yes. I'm passionate about this. We suffered for no reason. For so many years._ _ _I'm passionate about this too: I am not taking advantage of all the amazing things God has provided me. I look back and see that I have suffered for no reason. For so many years.The electric blankets of Faith.The Ways of God that provide warmth in the winters of life. In the dark nights. In the valley of the shadow of death.If I tried to make a list of the electric blankets of Faith, it would never end. The one that is coming to mind today is a two-sided blanket: Thankfulness and Trust.Trusting God and having a heart of thankfulness is a warm blanket that guards against the frost of ungratefulness and discontent.Oh, that frost bites at my heart. And all too quickly I am numb. And then I get upset with God that I am so cold. And His blanket of choosing a thankful heart of Trust is sitting right with me.Wrapping myself up in this today:
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again -- rejoice! Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and THANK HIM for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's PEACE, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His PEACE will GUARD your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.... I have LEARNED how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.(Philippians 4:4, 6-7, 11b-13)
One of my amazing mentors has been keeping a gratitude journal. Last week she was studying this passage in Philippians and the word "LEARNED" stood out to her. She shared her journey with me, "Thankfulness takes PRACTICE. I have to LEARN to be content with much or little." Yes, oh yes. (See why I call her my mentor?! So humble and strong in her walk with Yahweh.)Yes. Living contently is a LEARNED attitude and behavior. It must be practiced, studied, trained for, focused on. I must be deliberate and intentional in LEARNING to be content with little or much.Sigh. This is a blanket of warmth I'll have to choose to embrace... despite my fleshly desire to be sad and mad and have sour grapes. Sigh.Confession: It's always bugged me that people apply the "I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me" phrase for all kinds of situations... but not often about the actual situation described in Philippians. Bigger Confession: It bugs me that I rebel against the Word of God and choose to ignore this phrase in my own life. So stupid, self.Each night when I snuggle under the amazing warmth of our electric blanket... I'm reminded of the years we lived without warmth. And I'm searching my heart for frost-bite and looking for the warm blankets of God's Word.Electric blanket: you have warmed my toes and challenged my heart. I love you._ _ _Today another of my friends & mentors posted this clip of Joycie (aka Joyce Meyer) talking about trusting God when I don't get what I want. Yep. So good. https://player.vimeo.com/video/54290172_ _ _