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| Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11 NKJV |
Clam Bake with Jesus
WHAT: Clam Bake with Jesus
TIME: Between 2:30am and 4:30am
WHERE: My Kitchen Table
WHEN: Every Morning
WHO: Just me
WHY: Jesus Loves Me
THE PARTY I CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO
How
many times have I've been invited to a party?
(A lot, I am 48 years old!)
Once I get the invitation
I immediately begin to access the situation:
Who's gonna be there, is it
worth my time and energy to go? What should I wear? Who do I need to be? Should I make an appearance or stay a certain amount of time? What are they gonna be doing there?
BEING AWAKE IN THE MIDDLE OF NIGHT ALWAYS MEANT WORRY TIME
Remember, I haven't slept, but for once in a blue moon, for many, many, many years. In my mind it was time to worry about everything and anything and while I was at it decide also how to control each and every situation all by myself. I also created and designed endlessly (in my head). I am an artist after all. I came up with the titles of books I was going to write and illustrate. I came up with get rich schemes using my artwork. I designed new products. I opened new stores and little shops where I would work only when I felt like it. Seemingly I got a lot done and out of the way!! I also have discovered why VanGogh cut his ear off; because he could not stop thinking and creating, it's maddening! Yet I was so exhausted come morning.....mentally and physically.
I used to DREAD the dead of the night.
It was excruciatingly long.
It was dreadfully lonely.
It was horribly frustrating.
It was like the grinding of teeth.
It was excruciatingly long.
It was dreadfully lonely.
It was horribly frustrating.
It was like the grinding of teeth.
THESE DAYS, GOD PERSONALLY INVITES ME EVERY SINGLE MORNING TO MY VERY OWN PARTY
I can't wait to go!
NOW, I hop out of bed
(the best I can with a bad leg and pain)
and excitedly and expectantly
rush to the kitchen.
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I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 1 Corinthians 3:2 NKJV
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Why!? You might be asking....
HERE ARE THE REASONS I HURRY TO ARRIVE CRUTCH AND ALL:
1. My very favorite person will be there!
2. I get to celebrate Him!
3. My favorite food is there. It's bread, no longer milk!
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| And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. John 6:35 NKJV |
5. No one can cut in and steal my dance away!
6. I get to spend time alone with Jesus uninterrupted!
7. I get to know Him better!
8. I get to ask Him any question I want!
9. I get to tell him my troubles!
9. I get to tell him my troubles!
10. I get comforted no matter what!
11. He celebrates and encourages my passion to create!
12. He always invites me back!
WHY A CLAM-BAKE?
Why not...
"Alone time with God."
or
"Quiet time with God."
or
" In the moment."
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“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:14 NKJV |
JUST BEING TRUE TO SELF
God wired me the way He did to complete a purpose in my life. And that is to glorify Him. If I have learned one thing...I am creative! It seeps through me. I have learned the long hard difficult way that it was the WORLD telling me that I was worthless because I wasn't good at certain things. I didn't know how the devil sets traps like that. In order to be successful (said the world) I needed to be good at math, science, politics, intelligent conversation...all things that were a great struggle for me. Once AGAIN all lending towards my low self esteem and depression during my earlier years. Oh, if only I could gift this knowledge to children and teens and even adults! My burning prayer for them! HOW INCREDIBLY FREEING and REVOLUTIONARY to learn that God had actually wired me in a particular way to be TOTALLY successful in this life!
IMPORTANT Side note: This is NOT permission to NOT have to do things you don't like to do. God also gave us free will to make choices. Hard doesn't mean you can't do it. IE: education, hard work...etc.
IMPORTANT Side note: This is NOT permission to NOT have to do things you don't like to do. God also gave us free will to make choices. Hard doesn't mean you can't do it. IE: education, hard work...etc.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Job 33:4 NKJV
A CLAM BAKE JUST SOUNDS DOWN RIGHT EXCITING AND SOOTHING TO ME!
First of all c l a m s, YUM! Perhaps the soothing sounds and scents of the ocean near by. During this crisp fall day I'm sporting a warm snugly sweatshirt and a scarf one of my kids crocheted for me. Husband holding my hand. Friends who love Jesus surrounding me. A huge black cast iron pot steaming over a wood fire with smells of fresh clams wafting in the air. The delightful sounds of children giggling and weaving joyfully around the adults in silly play...some pass by me, stop to inspect at my crutch, my tremors, then give me a HUGE unconditional-loving smile. Funny, I've never actually been to a clam-bake!
I think of Paul in prison. He could have seen the darkness, the damp wet smell of yuck. The wretchedness of it all. Instead he saw it as his place to pray! He chose to use it as an opportunity to pray and praise God!
I count my blessings that I am in a warm house. Warm coffee. I can set up a lovely atmosphere with candles and much, much more. My suffering is nothing.
I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Thy
words. Psalm 119:147 NKJV
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A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my groaning. Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to Thee do I pray. In the morning, O LORD, Thou wilt hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch.
O satisfy us in the morning with Thy loving-kindness,
That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14 NKJV
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But I will sing of Your power;
Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.
To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;
For God is my defense, My God of mercy. Psalm 59:16-17 NKJV |
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Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,For I lift up my soul to You. Psalm 143: 8 NKJV |
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