Of Blankets, Pillows, and Security

Our youngest was to go in for a dental surgery to take care of a number of cavities all at one time.  The man who called me to go over some pre-op information and was giving me instructions said he could bring a security along, like his favourite blanket or teddy, etc.

My mind went down this track...
He shouldn't get attached to something...  He'll be okay without his pillow...

You know, I read and was told in these parenting books to switch blankets so they don't become attached...  and we tend to make light of an older child who is still clinging...

But, I began to ponder (uh--oh :)) and wonder...

SECURITY...

We all like to sit on something secure.
We all want to know the ledge we are standing on will hold us as we look out over the edge to the vast scene below.
We struggle to trust our future to God, because we like to know...
We like to have a friend, husband, companion with us when we enter a crowd or new place.
We want to know where the bend or track will lead us...
We want security, to know something or someone is 'for-sure'.  I am no different than my sons who all chose something as a baby, toddler and young child that became theirs for comfort and security.

It is within us.

So, maybe the issue isn't that we don't have something for security, but that we transition our security from a thing to Someone.

The question becomes - Where is my security?  What am I basing my security on?
Is it in something that changes or can be taken away?  Or is it in Jesus who is never changing?

Jesus, who is a Rock.
Jesus, who said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."
Jesus, who said, "I am the same yesterday, today, forever."
He is our Fortress. Our strong Tower.

And so, I offered him the choice to take his pillow.
It is going with us...

That transition is a journey.  It is not an arrival moment.  Because today I may be secure in Jesus, but I am aware how easy I can switch to a visible, tangible something.

What/Who are you 'taking' with you today, in this moment?

The Ripple Effects from the Choices of the First Man and Woman

I am one who enjoys personality tests, a bit of counselling, inspirational talks, etc. because awareness brings understanding, which in turn, helps me to understand myself  (and you) a bit more.
So, in all of that, the fall of man from his perfect state has often intrigued me or caught my attention.

For it's in the fall that we can so often find the root or understanding to our struggles and issues.

Lucifer.
Beautiful.  The leader of the singers.
Song.

Is it any wonder that song is one thing that is often taken from our hearts in the midst of sorrow and pain.
He is a stealer of song and joy.  of praise and thanksgiving.

Lucifer means light-bearer.  In Isaiah 14:12, he is referred to as, O shining star.
Is it any wonder he hates light and why darkness can so easily overtake us?

Satan was cast out of Heaven.  He fell from the perfect and beautiful place because he wanted to be like God.
That is the same thing he put before Eve.  In Genesis 3:5... and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

So, it is for me today.  So often my need for power or recognition or anything that I think I must have, comes shrouded with... 'I want to be top.  I want recognition.  I know what's best.'  In essence I want to be god.  I want control.  I believe I know what's best...

Satan put before Eve the fruit of - You eat the fruit and you will know...  He tantalized her until she gave in.
And she took a bite...
She immediately knew something was wrong.  Her and Adam now knew good and evil.

So, it is for us today... Satan puts before us the lure of wanting to know...  just maybe.... and we take a bite...
... wanting to know how alcohol tastes?
... what do drugs do for me?
... if I could go shopping and find a perfect dress or shirt, then I will be happy.
... if this person would like me, I would fit in.
... if I find the right partner to marry, I will be complete.
... and the list goes on...
Yes, you will know more, but is it what you want to know?
Yes, you are making life work, but is it how you want it to work?

The Truth is WE NEED GOD.

Control.
Eve took control of her world that moment she took a bite.  She did not trust God.  And so, it is with us.  We want to control our world (or do I just say me?? :))  Can anyone else identify? We want what we think is good, just as Eve took what looked and WAS good.  God created only good, so I am sure the fruit was delicious.  And isn't that how a lot of life looks to us... good.  Satan has now made bad look good, and because good was how life was created to be, he tantalizes us with that, holding evil disguised before us and feeding our senses.

Blame.
Adam blamed Eve.  Eve blamed the serpent.  No one wanted to take responsibility for their actions and the consequences that followed.  And it's true, everyone had a part to play in that garden scene.

And so it is for you and me...

It's so easy to shift blame, but the truth is, we are all a part of the scene and until we take responsibility for the part we play, we will stay stuck.  The blame game keeps you in bondage, even in situations beyond your control or responsibility.  (This is a tender subject and one that is a process and has a lot more to it than I am going to write here...)

But I do know we must take our situation and pain to the Father, the One who loves and wants to whisper Truth in the ear of our heart.  He delights in redemption and healing.

Redemption can only take place as we are willing to stop blaming...

Consequences.
Lucifer was cast into a place that was prepared for him and his angel followers.  A place devoid of light.  He now shrouds all of his actions of darkness with a veil of light and taunts us with it, wanting us to yield.

What is the cost of the Fall for you and me??
thorns, thistles, pain, brokenness, death.

Death.  Yes, God said we would die...

Death in so many areas...
- physically
- to dreams
- some of our goals don't pan out the way we wanted them to
- to perfection
and the list goes on...

We are bombarded in so many ways to be like God.  To be a god in our eyes.  To make life work for us without God.

We long for perfection, for that was how we were created to be.
Our hearts ache for it and so when Satan dangles that fruit before our eyes and it looks so good...  oh, it's so hard to resist.

It's so easy to put on a facade, because oh, we want to look good.
It's so easy to push something under the carpet, because it hurts and we want all things good.
It's so easy to think a friend or partner in marriage will make me complete.

But the only way to perfection this side of heaven, is to admit our brokenness.
The only way to wholeness is to bring those broken pieces to our Father and place them in His hands; mourning and weeping over the loss of perfection.

We think we know better than God.  We lean towards taking care of ourselves, that seems to come without much effort.
It comes because of the choice of man and woman.

We yield because we believe we need to care for ourselves.  There is a void that longs to be filled and so we yield to fill it.
We yield because we fill that ache with something other than God...

shopping.
sports.
alcohol.
hobbies.
relationships.
etc...

And the thing is most of it is good.  Many of the things we fill our ache with are good things taken too far, just as the fruit Eve took was good.  We MUST have......... to feel good and satisfied.

But the ache remains.  It is only dulled for a time.

All the while God longs for us to come to Him.  To trust Him once again.

He says through a million ways and over and over...
I want you.
I want your heart.
Will you trust Me to be enough?

And He aches and longs for us to know Him as Redeemer and Saviour.
As Lover and Friend.

My friend, because of choices made, and because God told Adam and Eve that if you eat of the fruit you will die...  we know death and pain.

God is not a mean God.
He is a good God, because He told us and He keeps His word.
He is a good God because He gave us a choice, loved us in spite of our wrong choice, and is willing to redeem our mistakes; turning ashes into a beautiful thing.

We know evil and pain; darkness and death; because we ate of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil not because God is cruel.

Are you learning to trust the heart of God with your life and story??