The Whole Pie

This pie chart represents me. This is what my heart looks like. Well, not to scale mind you, but I have a heart divided. In my heart I have a love for family, a love for friends, a love for God, a love for coffee.... Well you get the idea. There are lots of things on my mind and in my heart.

Sometimes I can feel very distant from God. However, knowing God like I do, I realize that if I'm feeling that distance, I must be the one who moved away. The Bible is clear, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

All my heart. Not some of my heart, part of my heart, or most of my heart. That can seem hard at times, because like most people I am pulled in so many directions daily. How can I make room for it all?

It's like that old analogy with the jar filled with rocks, then pebbles, then sand. If you put the big things in first, all the other things fit. However, if the sand goes in first, the big things don't fit.

Putting God first is the answer. When I seek him with my whole heart, somehow there is room for everything else. But if I seek the other stuff first, I can't find room for God. When I give God the whole pie, I get pie back. I like pie. Don't you?

Here is the jar analogy video. If you are reading this post via email, you may need to visit my blog at http://www.chattykelly.com/ to see the video.

The Postman

"Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." This is the unofficial motto of the US Postmaster. The thought behind the motto is that no matter what, the post office delivers.

To read about how Jesus delivers, join me over at Titus 2 in Action where I am a featured contributor every other Wednesday.

I am With Child.

Now before anyone gets too excited about my title line, I better explain myself. I think the Bible was first in using the term being "with child" to describe a pregnant woman. In the NIV version of the Bible, it first uses the term in Genesis and uses it seven more times throughout the Bible to describe pregnant women.



But anyone with preschoolers knows that you are more WITH child after they are born. In the grocery store, I am with child. In the bathroom, I am with child. And even in the middle of the night, I often wake up with child...child wanting water, child needing the bathroom or child to be tucked in.



So today I thought I'd share some of the fun and funny moments of being with child - a 4 year old child.



Friday at the grocery store she saw these tiny bananas. She exclaimed "Look at these baby bananas. They must have just been born." Ironically, when I looked for the tag to tell you what they are called, they were indeed labeled Baby Bananas, but they are also called oritos.

A few aisles later, I was checking out the canned goods, with my eyes off of her for no more than 3 seconds, when I hear a loud crash of breaking glass. There she stands in front of the biggest glass jar of applesauce they make, which is shattered on the floor.


"I didn't mean to do that." she calmed stated. I simply found one of the cashiers, and I kid you not, I looked him right in the eye and said "clean up on aisle 3." He saw that I was "with child" and just turned on his microphone and announced "Clean up on aisle 3!" (I did apologize as well).

Here are some other funny quotes and mis-quotes that come from being with child:




When I told her to behave she answered "I am being hav."



Singing: "Who built the ark? No-one No-one" (the actual lyric is of course: Noah, Noah)



"I obey myself." - She just piped up with this one from the backseat one day when we were driving down the road.






"I have a little dog barking in my heart." This is another original thought she just piped out with. I have no idea why. She then said "I like little dogs."



But my favorite quote was when we were driving home from preschool one day and say said to me, "Mama, Jesus came into my room last night." I responded "He did?!" and she said "yes, and he stayed with me all night so I wouldn't be afraid of the dark."

I believe Jesus did just that. Matthew 11:25 says "At that time Jesus said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.' " Jesus speaks of having to be like children to get into heaven, and not hindering children from him. I believe on that night he gave comfort to my little girl.

It is never a dull moment, when you are "with child." I often think I am learning as much from her, as she is from me. But, I'm still not sure about that little dog barking in her heart.

**Today's post is a re-run from April 2008, as I am busy enjoying the last week of summer with my family. That little 4 year old is entering 1st grade next week. Thanks for understanding.**

I Want You To Want Me

“I want you to want me. I need you to need me. I’d love you to love me.”
I Want You To Want Me, Cheap Trick, 1977

We all have the desire to be wanted, needed and loved. It's human nature. Yet, as humans we are created in the image of God. The image of a God who wants us to want Him, Who needs us to need Him, And Who'd love us to love Him.

But God is a God of freedom, He is a God of free will. So while He wants us to want Him, He doesn't require it of us. He allows us to choose if we want to love Him.

God told Adam & Eve not to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, but He allowed them the free will to make their own decision. Jesus said, "IF you love me, keep my commands." (John 14:15) He allows us to choose. Joshua told his people, "choose for yourselves whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15)

I can't imagine the God of the Universe, who is mighty and powerful, all-knowing and all controlling allowing ME to make such a huge decision! Me?!? I can't even decide what to make for dinner most of the time! Yet God loves me so much that he doesn't want to drag me into a relationship with Him, but instead He wants me to want Him. And He wants you to want Him too.

Musical Musings:
1. Do you believe in free will? Why or why not?
2. Have you made a conscience decision to love God, and because of that decision do you obey Him?
3. How do you show God you love Him in your daily life? Can others tell you love God by your actions?

Karaoke:
God, thank you for wanting me! I've done nothing to be called your child, yet all you ask is that I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in my heart that you raised him from the dead, and I will be saved. Thank you God! Thank you for wanting me and loving me. Help me to love you, serve you, and obey you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Rock On:
Joshua 24:15 says, "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Think about ways your household is serving the Lord. If there are no apparent ways, why not start serving more today.

Get Healthy

If I were to ask what is your description of healthy eating, I'd probably get lots of different answers. Some might say no sugar, while others may say no artificial sweetener is healthier. Some may say eating fruit is healthy, while the no carb people would say not to eat many fruits. Some may say eating protein is good for health, while others might say only vegetables, no meat.

The truth is, the healthiest eating plan is the one you can stick to. No I don't mean diet of ice cream and chips. I just mean that you & I could pick completely different healthy eating plans and both be equally successful.

Getting spiritual healthy is the same. Some may wake up early to spend time with God, while others wait for the quietness of night when the rest of the family sleeps. Some may read directly from the Bible, while others prefer the help of a Bible study book or devotional. Contemporary worship or traditional. Attending a Baptist church, others Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Christian or non-denominational, to name a few.

The truth is there are many ways to be spiritually healthy in Christ. To say that "our way" is the only way is wrong. There only "one way" is Christ. No one comes to the Father, except through Him. But the ways we choose to worship and pray, as long as they are Biblical sound, can be as individual as we are.

The important thing here is to choose a plan! You won't get healthy on the chips and ice cream plan. You have to pick a real health plan. So pick a real spiritual plan and stick to it! Here's to a healthy relationship with Christ!

The Look

Chances are, if you are like me, you have mastered "the look." No, I'm not talking fashion here. I mean "the look" you give your kids as a warning.

Before my kids do something they aren't supposed to do, they glance over at me, to see if I'm watching. Then I flash them "the look." For me, the look is eyebrows up, mouth straight and tight, eyes bulge slightly. The look says "I see you, don't do it!" They quickly return to doing good and don't get into trouble.

I wonder if God has "the look." To see what I mean, join me at Titus 2 in Action, where I am a featured contributor every other Wednesday.

Rock of Ages (Def Leppard)

I've got something to say.
It's better to burn out, than fade away!
Rock of Ages, Def Leppard, 1983

One of the things I learned when I attended the She Speaks Writers & Speakers Conference in 2008 was that if you are working for God, you can plan on the devil to attack you.

The very first time I ever gave my testimony was at a women's retreat when my oldest was about 5 years old. She woke up with the throw up bug the morning I was to leave. One of the hardest things I've ever done was leave that sick child to go speak at the conference. She even asked, "how could you leave me?" I knew she'd be fine under the loving care of her daddy, but it was so hard on me to leave her. I now realize that the devil was hoping I would in fact stay home and not share my message.

I've got something to say! The devil knows this, he wants to quiet me so I'll fade away. The night before I gave my testimony at my church this year I pulled a muscle in my back and was in a lot of pain. On another occasion when I prepared my message for a women's retreat my computer crashed and I lost everything on it.

I now realize these are spiritual attacks. But with the help of God, I'm not going to let the devil stop me. I've got something to say. It's better to burn out, than fade away. The devil's attack may sting or even burn, but to just fade away quietly without sharing my message would let him win.

Today's Def Leppard song is called Rock of Ages. Of course, I lean on the ROCK of ages, God. That is the only way I can escape the devil's attacks. The hymn Rock of Ages says Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee; let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure; save from wrath and make me pure.

God is the Rock of Ages I can hide myself in to protect me from the devil. He can save me from wrath. I've got something to say. And I won't be stopped. Will you?

Rocking Revelations:
1. Do you believe in spiritual warfare? Why or why not?
2. Do you believe the devil can and will come after you if you are working for God? Why or why not? Will this prevent you from doing the works God prepared in advance for you to do?
3. What are some ways you can hide yourself in God and protect yourself from the devil's attack?

Karaoke:
Dear Lord, You are the Rock of Ages! There is none mightier than you. Protect me, Lord, from the attacks of the devil as I make my way trying to do your work and your will. Shine your light on me so that I may see the way you want me to go. Thank you being my strength, my hope, my shield, my salvation and my rock. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Rock On:
Read Psalm 62 for encouragement on how not to be shaken, but to take refuge in God, our Rock of Ages.