"Twis-TEA" Turning Thoughts

My sheep listen* to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27, NIV)

How appropriate to have a cuppa tea with a wooly sheep on it and read the day's Jesus Calling entry (4/22) and realize that I can be as deaf and hard-headed as sheep. That's why they (& I) NEED a shepherd! Sheep need to continually listen to their shepherd. Uh-h-h, me too!

"Mind spinning," according to Sarah Young, comes from a multitude of thoughts that block out God's voice. "No mind spinning" was written beneath my tornado sketch. That's what my whirring mind looks like to me as I try to make all things (people, places, & events) fit "my"plans, even God.

Too often, my mind reflects Young's words, "pre-occupied with planning,"---even in the night watches.

But it gets worse. Compulsive planning, is not only a form of bondage, it's an "idol of control." 

I don't want any idols in my life---I didn't even consider that control (an extension of self) would be labled as such. To rid myself of this idolotry, I need to turn toward Him with a listening ear in order to "still" my "twist-TEA" turning thoughts and allow His voice to "control" my mind.

*NASB translated "hear" but I want to do more than hear-. I want to listen and recognize the voice as His and "respond" to it as the God's Word translates it.

Forgiving Fridays

1/30/09
This week the ole pragmatic mom in me, seeking to advise my daughter, was appropriately rebuffed by her. "Mom," she said. "Get out of my Kool-aid!" To all of you reading this today------If I have gotten "up" in your Kool-aid, please forgive me. I'm sure that I rationalized that being "up in your Kool-aid" was for your well-being. My, how easy it is to label CONTROL as good intentions......as easy as pushing the control button on my iMac computer.

Trust me on this one folks, only God is in control! And that's a good thing.
That's what "Forgiving Fridays" are all about ---making amends with God (asking forgiveness of sin) and making amends w/ others. In a "12 step" program my Forgiving Fridays are similar to their Step #5 which admits to God, self and others (when appropriate) the exact nature of the wrong. It goes hand in hand w/ their Step #4, where they take a moral inventory. The two steps are done together to be effective. I think that's right---
Do you ever get caught up in yourself? My confession---when Dr. B. (Memphis doc)
called the other day and said Dr. H. (Dallas doc) was awaiting my phone call , I envisioned
him standing by the phone. NOT!! I'm still waiting—- but there's a great lesson there for me.
Have you ever felt singled out in a positive way? Lately, every time I read one of my 5 different devotional books I think they are written just for me---but they are written for each of us who allows the Presence of God to use them in his/her life. New devotional book (from GI), Amy Carmichael's, Edges of His Ways----

-----today told of ST. Paul letting his letters break into song---WOW, just where I was yesterday. It concluded w/ the importance of praying against barriers, "which are nearly always made of self-love in one way or another." Journal excerpt: "Forgive me Father. Take me back to square one---review with me the basic steps of "our dance" ---enable me to continue to say, "move over self----it's not about me ---it's all about Thee!"