Water week

 

This week has been water week in my house and that was not a good thing. My toilet is broken and I can’t afford to fix it so we have to turn the tap by it on and off whenever we use it. This week my Father forgot to turn the tap off and water flooded my house. As a result, I am sleeping on the floor in my child’s room and my parents are camping out in the lounge. Then to add to it, my geyser started leaking through my parent’s bedroom roof and then I tried to tap the roof gently and a gush of water flowed out, just to add to the damp bedroom floor.

So, I said, okay I proclaimed loudly "Lord, I’m not getting the message." Of course, the innocence of my child shone through as she said; “Now all we need is Noah’s Ark”. Naturally, a chuckle followed that. I was not too impressed!

God preserved Noah because Noah obeyed God. I’m wondering if that’s the message that I need, to obey and do what I am told. In other words, listen to my Father and trust His wisdom.

Ironically, water restrictions were mentioned this week too. It seems I am an island surrounded by water. Soaked in water, gushing water and using water wisely. In my mixed up mind, I understand that I need to surround myself in God’s word, allow His love and grace flow over me and to listen carefully and use His way wisely.

Water is living and all around us. Water is above us and below us. Water makes things grow and it can make things die. Everything needs water to survive; plants, animals, humans.

And God is the same. God is living and all around us. He is above us and below us. He makes things grow and He can make things die. Everything needs God to survive; plants, animals, humans.

God is our living water when we see it and when we can’t. So in order to use His water wisely, we need to soak ourselves in His word, allow His word to gush over us and we need to use His word wisely.

Lord, help me to build Noah’s ark in me so I can appreciate and embrace the water you surround me and others.

As my water week ends, I embrace "camping out" with my child, make sure my water wings are accessible and  to always smile while I swim among the waves of life.

 

True Reality Check

I like to believe that people are trying to discover their true selves and in turn, trying to act more like their true selves. I hold the people around me in high esteem and when they make a decision that scars my high esteem of them, it hurts and disappoints.

The reason I keep people in high esteem is because I can see their true selves and I give them the benefit of the doubt because deep down, I know it's in them even when they don't necessarily see it themselves but then something happens and that high esteem is shattered. The one thing I hate about seeing things about others that not many see is that when they disappoint me, it affects me more on a deeper level because I know it's not who they truly are and it's not who I expect them to be or act.

When I am presented with this, I am faced with the question: Do I broach the subject with them, knowing they will be upset? Do I just not engage them as much as I used to? Do I not allow things to happen again? Do I become guarded?

Am I expecting too much from someone who actually doesn't see their true worth as a person, friend, family, parent etc? Should I lower my level of standards I expect from others so it doesn't occur often?

  

God tells us not to trust in people on earth as they will hurt you, disappoint you and do things differently to you but it's difficult for me when I can see their hearts and how they hide them because they don't know how to handle their true self and how they allow themselves to be how others want them to be.

And if you think about it, that's quite a harsh verse to accept. We love having great friendships, family relationships, etc but yet God tells us to take caution and to rather put your complete trust in Him rather than others. This is not easy to wrap your head around.

The world around us encourages us to trust those we care about it but God says rather trust in Me as I won't hurt you, I won't disappoint you and I won't forsake you.

What I take and understand from this verse is this: I love you because God loves you and love never fails. Love trusts, hopes, stands strong and never ends.

As my heart continues to be scarred and my mind mixed up, I will continue to trust more in God than man even though it is hard for me.