Assisted Living

"We all want to stay as independent as possible, for as long as possible. That's, of course, our goal." The sales lady said it. 

She understands that the people who come to her are fighting a battle.  They want to be independent, but can't be. But it's a fight of the soul. Of the will. Of the heart. And, in our case, a fight of the mind.

Her mind is fighting her. She's fighting it. It's time to move. Time to get some help. Full time help. Live-in help. She doesn't think she needs it. Doesn't want it.

Is she staying with me?

Yes, she is.

All night?

Yes, all night.

For how long?

For a while. 

All day? 

Yes, all day and all night.

But... why? I don't want that. I don't need that. I've been fine, alone here for 30 years.

I know that. But it's time for help. 

So, she's staying?

Yes. 

All night?

It took a while for the truth to sink in.

He is Truth

We all need help. Full time help. Live-in help. And we don't want it. Don't think we need it. We. Don't. Want. It. !.

We need... No, I'll just speak for myself. I need help. Soul help. Will help. Heart help. Mind help. All of it. Especially because I think that I don't need it. Especially when I forget.

He is Helper

It's hard to see we need help. We think we're fine. We think we're managing. Heck, we have managed. At least we think we have. But we don't understand that by Someone Else managing, our life will be better. Safer.

Don't take my word for it. Take His.

When we were truly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God's condemnation. Now, God's wonderful grace rules, giving us right standing with God and resulting in 

eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD. 

Romans 5:6, 8-9, 21 

He is our Righteousness

Helpless sinners. Christ died. We're made right by His blood. Grace. Right standing. Eternal life. Through Him.

Assisted living. For all. For ever.

Our heart. Our will. Our mind. He wants it all. Because if Someone is going to move in, if the Spirit of God is going to take up residence, care for us, guide us, keep us protected from our broken, forgetful selves, He's gotta have full run of the house. He deserves that.

He is Worthy

Praise His name! We don't have to live alone. We have a choice. Amazing grace.

Ask yourself today. Are you really living as well on your own as you could be living?
Do you see that you need help? That your sin muddles your soul, will, heart and mind?

It's time He moves in. 

Yes, it's time.

You need Him to stay, forever. 

Yes, you do. Really. 

Your life will be better with Him there. 

Yes, it will.

Tell Him you're a sinner. You've messed up. You think you can live without Him.
Admit He is your helper. The Only Helper that truly heals, reminds, protects.
Throw your stuff out on the lawn and ask Him to move in.
For ever. And ever.

Planting Daffodils

He got me again. Whispers of truth in the unexpected.
I love it when he does that.  

He is Teacher. 

In the bag, they don't look like much. Papery thin, not anything beautiful.

Their power builds in the wait.

He is Powerful. Our power!

It's while my little muscles are digging forty eight holes for spring, tearing roots, unearthing buried rocks, that He speaks. Nothing soothes or settles me more than His voice, knowing, knowing, what I've heard is from Him.

Planting deep, unearthing, takes work. Separating what's earthly.  

Yes, LORD, do it! 

Seeing the papery plain, filling what's unearthed. Such hope! Future change, faith, commitment, growth, glory.

It sheds its skin in the dark, pushes up, up, beyond the earth. Out of it. The only way we can really shine for Him is to come out of the earthly. To plant deep, in hope, in trust of change, and wait in hope for the bloom to come.

We wait in hope for the LORD. He is our help and our shield. 

Our hearts rejoice in Him for we trust in His holy name. 

May Your unfailing love rest upon us as we trust in You.

Psalm 33:20-22

He gives us all we need under that papery thin, plain skin. We have His Spirit to guide, teach, prompt, counsel, change us. To bring out what's unearthly, holy, new. 

He is Helper.

Sweet one, where do you need to dig deep, unearth, plant new? What does He want to root deeply in you, so that it can shine for Him? Ask Him. He will speak, and work in you.

Praise His name! 

Divine Direction

I saw what He did. Seeing the Divine in action! *I need to catch my breath*

Pointing. Prodding. Encouraging. Cheerleading. Helping.
Living out Psalm 118:7 - The LORD is with me - He is my helper.

He is Helper. What an amazing thought.

I've needed help. Prodding. Encouraging. Cheerleading. Direction. In that place of need are many options, directions in which to take my thoughts, actions, will.

I took a few wrong turns. Circled around Downer Street. Almost turned onto Doubt Drive, which dead ends at Hopeless Way. 

But, God. Pointed, prodded, encouraged me to His Way. 

He is The Way. 

Don't grow weary while doing good, He said (Galatians 6:9). He turns wailing into dancing! (Psalm 30:11). He has come to give life - to the FULL! (John 10:10).  He is doing something NEW, don't I see it? (Isaiah 43:19). Look ahead, think about where you're going (Proverbs 4:25-26).  

Such grace! Such love!

He pointed me to Him. Direction. A better Way than where I was heading on my own. I'm a creature of habit, so the wheel was tough to turn. To go the new Way. The road was not paved. But there are tracks now, ruts in that gravel. A path to follow next time.

Today, as you have options, directions to choose, choose His Way. Encourage others around you to choose His Way. 

For His glory.