stick-to-itiveness

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 (6:07 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

Thank You! Thank You for yard work and hard work. Thank You for the stick-to-itiveness that was needed to complete tasks that recently I’ve begun to give up on.

Lord God, how I do indeed thank You! My original plan throughout the early morning hours had been to meet with You to discuss my recent stubbornness. Stubborn in a negative, unwilling sense. Stubborn to the point of downright refusing to consider things I’d rather not think about.

But then I thanked You for the work You did through me yesterday. I thanked You for the stick-to-itiveness that has been missing from my days recently and I find myself exploring Your promise to Ezekiel…

Friday, May 6, 2011 (8:24 a.m.)

How very interesting Lord that I would title this with such a positive word describing perseverance and persistence only to disappear again for two more days. I have to admit, I love the way You work. I insist on going my own way. Getting sidetracked. But ever faithful, loving Father that You are, You don’t just leave me alone to my own devices. You remind me that YOUR way is the best way.

Far too often recently I have revisited the habit of starting and stopping any number of projects. Exercise. Better food choices. Following through on things begun. All tend to end with the same four words. “I’m bored of this.”

That’s what was so exciting on Tuesday. I had set a ‘reachable’ goal for myself and YOU came along taking me ever so effortlessly past it. I was fully aware that a power far greater than myself was working in and through me. And I am grateful Lord. Wonderfully, sincerely, whole-heartedly grateful.

Far too often I get stuck between the ‘want-to-s’, ‘have-to-s’, and ‘shoulds’. But every so often You allow me to just rise above it all. And just as often happens, another song comes to mind! ♫Let the glory of the Lord, rise among us…♫

Oh most dear and glorious Lord, it is when I least expect it that You send me the reminders that I need to more fully rest and trust in You. Thank You Lord. I’ve spent so much time and energy through the years battling windmills. And see Lord? Here You are again allowing me to see that I am not the only one like myself. Searching out the meaning of the previous phrase I was made aware of the word coined to describe others who have gone before just as idealistic, starry-eyed, impractical and unrealistic as I – quixotic!

But the coolest part of this whole endeavor Lord is that You never leave us alone, which brings me all the way back to Ezekiel. In chapter 36, You promise to restore the nation of Israel. Not because the people deserve it. But because Your will would not be stopped.

It is because of Your gracious power to forgive and rebuild that I get to lean hard into the truth of verses 25-27 from The Message. “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.”

Lord, it is this truth that helps me remember “from whence cometh my help” (Psalm 121). It’s You Lord. Any stick-to-itiveness I experience comes directly from You and I am grateful. Deeply, profoundly grateful! Help me stick to whatever it is You have for me this day. I love You. And I thank You. Amen.

(649 words ~ 10:56 a.m.)