Hi, guys! It's Elizabeth here. I know, it's about time. I'm not even going to go back and look to see how long it's been since my last post. It's probably pretty scary. :(
But tonight I'm going to talk about the reason (besides procrastination ;)) why I haven't been posting:
Absolute and utter busyness. I have so much homework and schoolwork, plus this month I'm doing NaNoWriMo... I thought this year it would be fun to pile lots of things in my life... I'm learning from that mistake right now. ;)
Aylin actually just posted a few songs that I've been listening to a lot as well lately. They're AMAZING. If you haven't listened to them, you seriously should.
I was on Facebook the other day, and saw this quote from Alex and Brett Harris:
"God doesn't give us conflicting obligations. There will always be enough time to do everything He has given us to do — and no time to waste." I think it's so true. In fact, it really encouraged me. How much time do we spend, on Facebook, playing games, etc., when we could be doing the things that are giving us stress? But God also gives us another very important obligation...
You have probably heard of this portion of scripture before, as it is very popular. In fact, Matthew 11:28-29 are some of my very favorite verses:
“…Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” I love these verses so much. I think sometimes it's easy to forget that while, yes, God does call us to work--he also calls us to rest. :) Like I said previously, Aylin's music choices great, be sure to check them out. Here are a few of my favorites lately....
I haven't been posting very regularly (I'm sure you've noticed) because I have a little Energizer Bunny that visits me for eight hours every day. Her name is May -- and because she's 13 months old, law dictates that she will always have more energy than I could imagine possible.
And I really mean it. She's exactly like the bunny from the commercials. If you set her down, she's gone... and there's no stopping her. Ever. Need proof? I didn't, but I got it anyway. My sister, Belle, was at dance practice in a church for a little over an hour yesterday. And so, for a little over an hour, I ran after May as she explored the cavernous (at least to her) spaces of the gym, kitchen, foyer, sanctuary, annex, and etc.
At the end of the day, I was beat. May, on the other hand, was just as fast and energetic as ever.
Anyway, that is why I have not been on the Internet lately. Sometimes I'll get on to research something for school or check emails, but other than that, I'm on very little. And my nanowrimo novel is still at 4,000 words, when it should be at ten times that.
I guess I'm venting a little bit about my loss of the freedom of time, but the truth is, I wouldn't give May up for anything. It is such a privilege to be able to help take care of her while her mother is at work. I've learned so much from her -- things like how to juggle reading Moby Dick and burping a baby at the same time, or how to deal with spit and runny noses and messy diapers. It's hard work, but it's fun. I wouldn't trade it for anything, because I know that taking care of May is Kingdom work. I'm not, and my family is not, doing it for any reason except to give her a picture of love, peace, and happiness.
So, now I'll leave you with a song, because the one thing I have been doing a lot of lately is listening to music.
"Don't Stop the Madness" is one of those songs that I would like to lock in a dark closet and forget it ever existed. The song is by Tenth Avenue North -- a wonderful band, but with challenging messages. I've found several songs on their new album, The Struggle, especially difficult to digest. "Don't Stop the Madness" is gritty and deep and something I'd rather forget about. Here are the lyrics that caused my reaction --
All I hear is what they're selling me
That God is love, he isn't suffering
And what you need's a little faith and prosperity
But, oh my God, I know there's more than this
If you promise pain it can't be meaningless
So make me poor if that's the price for freedom
Don't stop the madness
Don't stop the chaos
Don't stop the pain surrounding me
Don't be afraid, love, to break my heart
If it brings me down to my knees, yeah
I'm sorry? Don't stop the pain surrounding me? Break my heart? I believe I must have heard that wrong.
The trouble is, the lyrics are exactly right. I remember reading something a long time ago in the Voice of the Martyrs magazine. It was several quotes from persecuted Christians who were talking about praying to God to give them suffering. At first I thought that our brothers and sisters in Christ had gone crazy. But the truth dawned on me as I read how they were joyful at the thought of suffering for their Lord. They wanted to be counted worthyof dying for Jesus. They did not want to be a Christian who was not recognized for their beliefs.
It's that unexplainable, reckless abandon that this song is calling us to join in on. We cannot be made more like the One we adore if we are not sent through fire. And if the devil doesn't think that we are a problem to him -- if he doesn't think we are a threat that needs to be harassed -- then what kind of witness are we?
So bring on the pain, the suffering, the chaos. Let me be worthy of suffering for You, Lord.
