A God Rampage

It’s 5:30am. I’ve just had my first cup of tea in bed.  (That’s Oregon. I just like this photo.)

I’m about halfway through my God Time and I’m thinking I’m so glad I got up early because I know, without any doubt, my days go better when I’ve spent time with the Big Guy upstairs.  But, as we all know, it’s hard to make that time because life gets in the way so easily!

These are some things I use for my God Time

 

 

Anyway, I’m thinking and writing in my journal, and all of sudden, without any warning, I get on this “God rampage.” It happens sometimes.

So this is what I wrote:

Why Do All This God Time Anyway?

The world barges in. And it barges hard. Full-bore. It pounds us with our culture’s trash. Especially if you watch TV much, or stand in the grocery checkout line and notice the magazine tabloids at the eye level of your 11, 8, 6 and 2 year old, or just drive down the street. It’s everywhere you look.

Celebrities out of control, news pundits opinionating on too many things, government failures, advertisers trying to make you think you need “stuff,” credit card offers to go more in debt…..

This photo almost hit the cutting room floor because it disgusts me so.  But I’m trying to make a point.  Is this really what we want to teach our children is “NORMAL?”  NO.  But society has normalized it.

MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE!

We cannot saturate our precious minds, bodies, souls and spirits with all that crap!

I promise, you will not be left in the dust, not knowing what is going on in the world if you limit your exposure to these things. I’m not saying a little escape time with a good movie isn’t ok. That’s fine.

But we have to be heavy on the side of vigilance about what goes into our eyes and ears and is then left to sit in our minds and mess with us.

This is a parallel Bible. It has 4 versions on each page.  I don’t use this daily.  Just when I want to compare what one version says to another.  That’s my regular Bible next to it in a zippered cover.

 

 

We Do This Because We Want The Full Life

We are striving for the full, abundant, bursting-at-the-seams life that God wants us to live, so then we can make a difference in the world.

So remember, God is the good guy. Make no mistake, it is the devil (evil) that kills, steals and destroys.* But God loves us and has a hope and a future for us**….if…..and this is the big kahuna IF…….. we are living according to His will.

These are great journaling notebooks.  Cheap.  Stack easily.  Before I started with these I used various different cute ones.  But I think, after a lifetime of journaling, these will be easier to manage.  Moleskins are also wonderful.

So How Do I Know His Will?

Well, it’s all in the Owners Manual. You read the Big Book. I’m talking about the Bible. I know it sounds overwhelming at first, but trust me, you will be blessed if you do it.

The more you know God’s nature (and reading the Bible is the quickest, most definite way you will learn about His nature) the more you realize what He wants. It has to seep down inside and that takes time. You’ve got to know how He has operated over thousands of years and Jesus comes out and explains it in the first 4 books of the New Testament. But you won’t “get it” if you don’t have ears to hear. Choose to listen.

How Often Do I Have To Do This?

Well, the more you do, the better life gets. When you put that time in daily – before you do anything else – little by little – you will begin to understand Him and not be moved, as much, by the difficulties of life. They will not rock your world as much as they used to. You will act instead of re-act. Just start with 5 minutes when you wake up and increase little by little.

Fantastic daily devotional book.  Just read one entry on the date it says to read it.  Very intelligently written.  Old and well-known.  You can find it anywhere.  Click here to see My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers, on Amazon.com

Are You Ready? Bring It On, God!

To really get the most of what God has for you, ( I want all you have for me, God) we must read, listen, pray, write, and intercede (that means pray for others.)

Be with Him first thing in the day.  If you have a busy life, once your feet hit the floor or your mind gets on other things – the horse race has begun for the day and having a little quiet time will be nigh-near impossible. Even if you do find the quiet time, I have found it is still harder to keep my mind focused.

What Is This Business About “A Relationship?”

It’s called “developing a relationship with Him.” Back before I had that relationship, I was annoyed when people said “I have a personal relationship with Jesus.” “Say what?” I would roll my eyes.

It seems really strange because, it’s as if you’re developing a relationship with someone or something invisible. And you might feel silly just talking to thin air. Or you might not.

These are verses I put into 1st person, printed on my computer and taped to my wall by my bed.  I will explain this more another time.  But I wanted to see them when I woke up and when I went to sleep.

You might think others will think you’re off your rocker.  Guess what. Some people will definitely think that. Oh well. So be it.

Here is where we start not worrying about what people think. You shake the dust off your feet and let ’em feel the weight of who you are.   Ohhh that is my favorite line from the book “Wild at Heart” by John Eldredge.

Are You Desperate Yet?

Sometimes we are required to be in desperate situations to figure this whole thing out.  That’s what happened to me.   In the late 90’s our marriage had turned into a train wreck.  But I was completely and totally determined about 2 things.

1)  I was not going to get a divorce, because I had done that once already.   I believe, though, that if you get a divorce,  you WILL want to marry again and you will be just taking on a whole new set of problems to work through.

2)  I was not going to have a bad marriage.  So I thought, “what the heck do I have to do to have a good one?

This took me back to square one in learning about life.

My husband calls me the gadget queen.  I just like the right tools.  OK.  This is my phone and it is very cool.  Another post, I’m going to show you how it helps in my God Time.

It’s Time For God’s Peace In Your Heart

So, after your God Time, all of your tasks will still be there and you will deal with them from a much more loving place. You will be armed with God’s peace in your heart and mind so that you can take on the day from a place of offense instead of defense.

You are preparing yourself for the monumental details of life and don’t forget, “the devil is in the details.”

For me, if I don’t have my God Time first thing,

it never happens.

So…another rampage. Thank you. I feel much better.

Be motivated sweet ladies. We’re all in this together!

Love, Allison

*The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. -John 10:10

**For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11

God Bless You!

PS  This post just broke all the blogging rules on length.  Way too long.  Gotta work on that.