So I had a Bad Day . . .

Let's just say the Alvin and the Chipmunks, "You Had a Bad Day," would be my ring tone of choice today.  In all fairness, it wasn't all bad.  It started out quite nicely.  I started a cup of coffee hot and finished it hot.  That was cool . .. .  There was laughter, a little quiet and a mixture of productivity.  The kids and I cleaned and vacuumed the truck after school . . . . That process wasn't easy on any level.  Especially the working with people part . . . .but it was still a goal accomplished.

Things started turning bitter a little before the supper hour.  Why is not so much as important as how.  That it could happen so quickly is what impresses me . . .   coming in like a tidal wave and covering everything in its path before you even notice.  Nothing left untouched.  It pretty much put a "damper" on the rest of the evening.

And so I sit here.  Thinking about it.  Replaying the day.  Thinking of those pleasant moments and conversations from early this morning.  Thinking about a verse I was thinking about before seven this morning.  Thinking about it some more and wondering how something that struck me so intensely could be forgotten so quickly.  I was in the kitchen with Jon before the kids were out of bed and was telling him that it was like I had heard Philippians 2:6-7 for the first time.

Who, being in very nature God, (Jesus) did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Wasn't I just telling him how amazing it was that Jesus didn't walk around saying, "Grasp this!"  He didn't meet people and interact with them with the attitude, "I am equal to God.  Contemplate that for a minute.  Then I'll get back to you."  I remember laughing.  Wasn't I just saying how easy it is to do that in our own home?  With friends?  Family?  Church?  I remember saying for example I could say, "I am mom.  Grasp that."  Just fill in the blank.  "I  am . . . . Grasp that."  "This is what I do .. . . Grasp that."  I remember our conversation.  Its funny.  I just don't remember at what point I forgot it.  

I wish I hadn't because it might have been a better evening.  My savior met the average person on the street and became their servant before expecting them to grasp who is really is.  God.  And yet in my own house how hard it is for me to be servant first.  In humanness I want the recognition of who I am before taking on the nature of a servant.  How far I have to go.  But if having a bad day now and then enables me to better understand the nature of God and His character I'd have to say it was worth it.  

I'm so glad he stoops to talk to me even when I don't get it right.  His character is most certainly that of a servant.  His nature is most assuredly God.  

Listen?

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.  Ephesians 5:1


But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.  1 Samuel 15:22


I didn't expect to be on here this morning.  I'm not really a die-hard blogger . . .   :)  But I had a few quiet moments this morning.  And as I sat with my coffee I guess I just offered up that prayer that I often do.  "Lord, speak to me."  Sometimes he does right away.  Other times, he waits.  (I actually thought I had a couple inklings of what he might talk to me about this morning.  A couple things I thought maybe he was going to wrap up.  lol).  But I didn't open my Bible.  Thank goodness I was quiet for a minute.   - - - A song came on.  It spoke of obedience being better than sacrifice.  I looked up a couple verses.  There was a light touch on my shoulders.  This is definitely what He had for me this morning.  


How often, (I'm ashamed to admit) have I rushed off to church with something to offer as a "sacrifice" when what he really wanted was for me to "go near to listen?"  What have I been so intent on contributing while all the while I was disobeying as much in what I did not do as anything I could "do"?  


I don't really have much more.  Nothing too "well put" or insightful.  But that may be the beauty of it.  Even in this, there's not much I can contribute.  He said it in His Word.  I didn't.  "to obey is better than sacrifice."  "Go to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice."  BTW, I'm not advocating ditching nursery duty, or anything this morning!  :)  Just getting some perspective this morning from the only name I want my heart to sing.  Jesus.