From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

Sometimes I feel like my head will explode knowing all the things I have to do and the shortness of the time in which to do them. Pressure builds up and, before you know it, confusion, forgetfulness, impatience, anger, etc., are spewing out all over. What the heck just happened to my nicely planned day? The unplanned phone calls, the unexpected visit for prayer and counsel, the equally unexpected visit to the ICU, the leaking water pipe, the stalled car and dead battery…that’s what happened!

Then, if it’s not some crazy set of emergencies, it’s the dragging monotony of the banal details of life! Then there is the laundry, banking, yard work, shopping, cooking, and cleaning…all boringly repeated tasks. How do you deal with that?

What I just described was a lifeless, endless daze of details and darkness…so…follow me here on this point…dark is countered with...c’mon…with…light! Bingo! As I looked back on what seemed dark, foreboding or even fruitless days, I saw a common thread—I did not spend time with the Lord for the pure pleasure of His company. Can you imagine what would happen if we did to our loved ones what we do to God? What love would it convey to them if we only went to them in an emergency or when we needed money? What intimacy would be developed if, after we spent a few aloof, distracted moments with them, we said, “Gee, I’m glad that 'duty' is over with so now I can get on with my day?”

The words of an old song pop into my head right now, “Stop, in the name of love, before you break my heart”. We need to stop treating God in this way! His presence in our lives can brighten up the gloomiest of days and bring some bling to the most routine tasks of daily life.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to run around in life unfocused and stalling out in “neutral”. I want the vibrant life God talks about, not some directionless confusion. Light me up, Lord, light me up! And, wonderfully so, He does just that! Psalm 63:7, “Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings.” Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold!

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