It's been a while since I shared with you last. A little over a year to be exact. There's no good excuse for my being silent, really. I sat down one day to rest - which was a good, and much needed thing. But...I got so comfortable, I settled in and stayed put. Laziness and lack of motivation will take up residency right next to you in your easy chair if you let them. And, boy have I ever let them. In fact, I may have even spooned with them during my sloth like sabbatical. I also spooned some chocolate peanut butter ice cream, but that's neither here nor there, really.
You guys - it is H-A-R-D to get back up after having been idle for so dang long. Furthermore, lack of motivation is sometimes motivation in and of itself - the motivation to keep doing nothing, that is. But, here's the thing, when someone or something sits idle and unattended to for a while it can be quite detrimental. Take for instance a vacant home. No matter how beautiful that home may be, if no one tends to the property, it will eventually deteriorate and fall apart. Taking a break and getting some rest is good, but we gotta be careful not to let that rest turn into a permanent furlough or we end up worse for wear. (If this does not apply to you, then praise God! Keep on keeping on, my friend. I'm generally preaching to myself and working out my own salvation here anyway. So, carry on. Today's sermon will be done shortly.)
When you're stuck in your easy chair, or rut of another nature, self-doubt and excuses to stay put will be plentifully supplied to you on a silver platter by none other than Satan himself. He cleverly disguises them to look more attractive than the greater gifts the Lord has waiting for each of us in the wings. In fact, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the devil himself didn't stand by said easy chair fanning the occupant with a palm leaf and spoon feeding him/her chocolate peanut butter ice cream (that stuff is my kryptonite, you all. God help me.) The apostle John has Satan's number though. He calls out Satan for who he is...
"...when he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies." -John 8:44 (NLT)
The father of lies will go to great lengths to keep us from making any moves toward the blessings of the Lord. And, if we're not careful to demolish those lies, then you may as well get comfy and put your feet up folks, cause paralysis will soon be a settin' in. Now, lest you think the Lord lacks the ability to make something look attractive or tasty (Ahem, George Clooney, y'all. You're welcome.), hear me on this - God has no intention of deceiving us into thinking we're getting something awesome when we're not. He speaks truth over us, and calls a spade a spade. Not only that, but His gifts for us are good and perfect (James 1:17, people.). Always. They don’t need a disguise. They are glorious and divine all by themselves. And, you can take that to the bank and cash it. Cause that right there ain't no ice cream coated, palm leaf fanning, easy chair sitting lie.
I love (as in L-O-V-E with big, red hearts) the HGTV show, "Fixer Upper". Oh. My. Goodness. Chip and Joanna Gaines are adorable, on steroids. What's more, those two cuties have an amazing gift to look beyond the ugly, run down, and sometimes dilapidation of a home to visualize its true beauty...its true identity...its true potential. No matter how long a home has sat unoccupied, unkempt, unused, unloved...they see worth where others may not. Chip and Jo show potential homebuyers several different properties, most all of which require varying degrees of fixer upping (is that even a word? I don't know. Anywho...). If the clients choose to take a chance on the worth the Gaines' see, then you can bet your sweet bippy the homebuyers will end up with a captivating and beautiful fixed up sanctuary to call home. I love that. And, for what it's worth, I love Chip and Joanna. Big hearts to you, Gaines family. Big. Giant. Red. L-O-V-E hearts.
The restoration and remodel of the "fixer upper" home usually begins with "Demo Day". It is at this point in the show, that Chip with his all in macho, six foot, three inch frame showcases his demolition skills with a side of theatrical craziness mixed in. After the rubble is cleared and construction complete, the beautiful and divinely talented Joanna puts her incredible design and decorating touches on the formerly run down abode. And then good people, what once was lost is now found. The beauty and worth of the "fixer upper" is no longer hidden, but restored and visible for all to enjoy.
Today is my "Demo Day". I am through being lazy and stagnant. This fixer upper is jumping out of her easy chair and turning herself over to the best carpenter, creator and designer of all! Over to The One who sees past how long I've sat idle, unmotivated and stagnant but never, ever once stopped seeing my worth. Over to The One whose very word is like a sledge hammer that busts wide open the lies Satan masquerades as truths! Fix me, Lord. It's "Demo Day".
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." – 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)Care to join me for some demolition of your own? (insert manly grunting sounds here). There is God breathed beauty and worth inside of each one of us that should be uncovered and shared. Rest when you need to rest, but for heaven's sake, don't sit so long you become idle and unmotivated and forget your worth. And, for heaven's sake, always keep your sledge hammer handy so you can bust open the lies that Satan delivers. Swing for the heavens, baby!
"God can redeem not only every life, but every season of our life, every addiction, every lie, every failed marriage, every financial crisis, every jealous thought, every bad mood, and every deep, dark secret. He uses our lowlights to demonstrate his power. No matter how deep our pit of sin is, God's long arm of redemption reaches down, pulls us out, washes us clean by the blood Jesus, and welcomes us home." –Laura Story
Welcome home! It’s demo day, friends. Do you have the courage to let God reveal His beauty and worth in you?
*Ironically, the Laura Story quote is from her book, When God Doesn’t Fix It. Your humor is not wasted on me, Lord.