Saturday, May 26, 2012

So, What Am I Going To Do?

It's a good question.  
What am I going to do about bad attitudes?
Selfishness?
Complaining
Fussiness?
Anger and impatience?
Here, I need to show you a picture....

 NO, this isn't the one, but isn't he a riot?

 O.K., this is the one.
When Steve and I were at Glen Eyrie, one of the most undeniably gorgeous sights you will see are the gardens there.  Truly, they are spectacular.  The grass is so unbelievably green and lush, the flowers are so varied and beautiful, the trees are full, offering shade and color.  Everything about their gardens say, "Come rest and enjoy my beauty.  Breath in the fragrance of my flowers, sit and let your souls feast on my colors and refresh yourself."  I would just sit and look and breathe in the beauty in that garden.  'Surely the Garden of Eden must have been like this, but more so.", I thought.

 I commented to Steve how gorgeous it all was, and he laughed and talked about the hours that the gardeners worked each day to make it all so perfect and pretty.  And those gardeners need certain tools to do their work well.  
 It certainly was worth the work though, and I was grateful for it as I sat there and enjoyed the beautiful garden around me.


So, how do bad attitudes fit into here?  Well, first of all, I am talking about MY bad attitudes.  Yep, way to often I am selfish and complain, I feel angry and impatient, I speak to quickly and say things I regret.  I let the "day - ness of things" get to me and make excuses for myself.  I doubt that I am going to help my children with their bad attitudes when I am not correcting my own.  
I was reading the Bible verse "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:16)
What does "equip" mean?  
"Supply with the necessary items for a particular purpose."
What about "competent"?
"Having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully.  Efficient and capable."
I want to be competent and equipped each day when I wake up and do the good work that the LORD has for me that day.  But I must pick up the right tools for the job.  Like the above gardener who makes Glen Eyrie so beautiful, I must consider the work that I need to do and "pick out" the tools that I will need to do that job.  
So, what am I going to do about my own bad attitudes?  
They certainly are not good "tools" to use in my daily work.  
I must look into the LORD's Scriptures and let them teach me, offer reproof and correction where needed, and let His Words train me in righteousness, knowing that His desire is to equip me for every good work.  
Now, that all sounds good, and it is, because it's God's Words that we are talking about,
but,
what does that look like? 
I felt "stressed" about some things this week and starting getting grouchy and short tempered.  Here's a mathematical equation to help you get the picture;
Problems created feelings of worry plus thoughts of poor me plus words of complaining equaled depression and anger.  
Pretty simple to see I hope.  And since these were the tools I went to "work" with each day, you can guess that my little "garden of children" have not been to perky.  Wrong tools gets bad results.
Time to look into Scripture for some help.  
I pray 1st, "LORD teach me from Your Word, correct me and train me for the good work that You have for me to do.  I confess my sins of fear, worry, frustration and complaining.  Cleanse me from unrighteousness and help me to live a life that brings glory to you." 

 "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the LORD.  See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.  You also, be patient."  James 5:7  
I expect to much and am often looking for "fruit" in my children (and others) without giving it time to grow.  Being patient is a tool that I can pick up and use better today.

For several of my children and their physical, mental and emotional health I read the beautiful words of Jesus and feel comforted - "Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well."  Luke 8: 48.  Pick up the tool of belief and receive the comfort that HE sends. 

Several times the last few days, I have commented that I just didn't know what to do about such and such problems.  These things have become a burden.  The LORD reminded me in 2 Chronicles 20 that His people in this book also faced those same feelingsTheir exact words were "We do not know what to do,..."
but here is the next part that I need to remember;
"...but our eyes are on you." (2 Chron. 20:12)
"Lord, I do not know what to do, but my eyes are on You.  And like your people of ages past, I will set my face to seek help from You, LORD and I believe that you will send that help."  Amen
 
"Satan strikes either at the rood of faith or at the root of diligence." - John Livingstone

My we each encourage others to look to His Word to find the answers that we seek. 
Happy Gardening sweet friends.

7 comments:

  1. A big Amen. So convicting. How often do I get frustrated only to realize that I am looking in a mirror....thanks for reminding me of the direct line to help = scripture.

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  2. and this is why I love you! you get me! Thank you for the reminder and encouragement!

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  3. Sending hugs and prayers! Learning to seek Him first in all things and allowing Him to be the ONLY resource we draw from - takes us being still and prudent in all we say and do!

    You are a wonderful mother! xo

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  4. YES, thank you! I love at the end that you wrote "My we each encourage others to look to His Word to find the answers that we seek. " You have encouraged me. I struggle so much in this area, and have been encouraged lately to remember these tools!

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  5. Hello Shonni,
    I just found your blog a couple of weeks ago, and I have been so blessed by it. Thank you for sharing this today. I needed to read it and hear it and I need to live it. You are a wonderful encouragement and blessing. Thank you! In His Love, Karen ~smile~

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  6. EXcellent word for me today . . . THANK YOU!!

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  7. LOVE this post and the example of the gardener and the tools. I will be thinking about it as I prune, weed, water, nuture and delight in my garden. Thank you for such good words!

    Tiffany

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