Pull it Together

Happy Wednesday! 

That beautiful day of the week that isn’t the beginning and isn’t the end but sits perfectly in the middle.
Lots of time to redeem all those things that haven’t gone quite as planned. 

It is a beautiful September day.

The dew is sparkling like diamonds on the back lawn (a sign the lawn should be mowed, but beautiful none the less). 

The wild bunny is out back munching on some clover (he looks just like a chocolate Easter bunny, tall floppy ears and all). 

Nico has been running up and down the hallway getting rid of some energy before he lays down for a sleep.  (He got tired of crying at the bunny through the window.)

The sun is shining and there are only a few clouds in the sky. 

I have a cup of tea and my devotions in front of me and plans to head out later for some overdue time with a friend. 

I have been reading 1 Peter this morning – a book FULL of so many wise and inspired Words to live by. 

I especially like 1 Peter 1:13 which says:

What a wonderful word picture for me this morning.  

In ancient days when men wore long tunics and robes, they would “gird up” or gather up the long ends of their garments and tuck the ends into their waist band to allow freedom of movement or quick movement. 

So Peter is telling us to do the same with our mind – our thoughts.

“Therefore, gather up and tuck in your thoughts”

You know intuitively what I am saying

Those stray thoughts that you can’t seem to keep in check

The worry, the judgement, the excuses

You know how they run free in your mind

Taking up valuable space and time

Keeping you from moving freely
Keeping you from moving in a timely manner

The “what if’s” the “I don’t know if I can’s” the “look at how she has it all together’s”

The “if only they really knew” 

The fears and tears that may not show on your face but take up space in your mind.

Today is a day of grace.

Grace through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. 

Grace, Grace, Marvelous Grace

Grace takes our hand and wipes our tears

Grace gives a shoulder to lean on 

Grace passes the cup of tea and lingers with us in the dark

Grace tells us that we are enough

That we have enough

That we are unique

That we are His!

Peter tells us, though, that we must take this active step

We must “gird up the loins of our mind”.

Think of it as a little fall cleaning.

Take out the broom and lets’s get rid of some of those tumbleweed hairballs that are blocking our thoughts and cluttering up our minds

Sweep out the “wants’, the insecurities, the doubts, the fears, those unshed tears,the regrets and comparisons, 

Sweep them up into a pile and tie them up with some twine (or some good old fashioned duct tape) and get them out of the way

Now, take a step forward – not so difficult was it

Now, start to speed up – easier when you are not entangled with the “dust in your mind”

Now, go for it – 

Full steam ahead. 

Just imagine the freedom of running full force ahead in the grace of the Father, unencumbered by those random and damaging thoughts that we let sit in the center of our mind.

Run the race

“girded”

Unencumbered

And covered by the grace of God.

And GO!